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UH, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.
UH, I GUESS WE'LL START WITH ROLL CALL CHAIRMAN TREVINO HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER ANDREW SULLIVAN.
DO YOU HAVE A QUORUM? OKAY, GREAT.
UM, LET'S GET TO THE FIRST ITEM.
IS IT THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES, MINUTES ASSIST MEETING, SIR? I'M NOT ON THE AGENDA.
[Public Comment]
NO MINUTES ASSIST MEETING.ALRIGHT, SO WE'LL GET TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO READ THEM, SIR? YES, PLEASE.
OKAY, I'LL TAKE, UM, I'LL READ.
UH, THE FIRST ONE IS FROM FATHER KRAUS OF OUR LADY OF THE ANGELS CATHOLIC CHURCH.
HE STATES THAT CATH, OUR LADY ANGELS, HAS HELPED OVER 20 FAMILIES APPLY FOR N H S D EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE.
HE SAID EVERY TIME THE APPLICATION PROCESS WENT SMOOTHER AND HE WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE MS. VERONICA SOTO, THE DIRECTOR OF NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES AND STAFF, AND THAT THERE'S MONEY COMING TO THE FAMILIES NOW AND MUCH JOY IN THEIR LIVES AND GRATITUDE.
THE NEXT COMMENT, PARDON ME, IS FROM MARY RODRIGUEZ WITH ST.
SHE STATED THAT, UH, VERONICA SOTO, DIRECTOR OF NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING AND SERVICES MET WITH COPS, METRO LEADERS AND, UH, ON THE OWNER OCCUPIED REHAB PROGRAM.
SHE COLLABORATED WITH THEM ON THE APPLICATION PROCESS, AND AS A RESULT, FAMILY STAYED IN THEIR HOMES.
THEY AVOIDED LOSS OF RESIDENTS OR BEING HOMELESS.
MS. SOTO WAS ALSO TASKED WITH A HUGE UNDERTAKING TO ESTABLISH A DA DATABASE FOR A COVID EMERGENCY HOUSING PROGRAM, AND SHE WAS SET.
SHE STATES THAT SHE'S ENORMOUSLY PROUD OF MS. SOTO AND HER TEAM.
SHE'S BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN TAKING PROGRAMS FROM AN IDEA TO A FRUITION, AND RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN SERVICED FINFIN EITHER FINANCIALLY OR WITH A HOME.
AND PROGRAMS ARE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE OF MS. SOTO'S HARD WORK CALIBER AND DEDICATION.
THE NEXT ONE IS FROM MS. GALINDO.
MS. GALINDO, JUAN GALINDO STATED THAT SHE HAD DIFFICULTIES FILLING OUT THE APPLICATION, UPLOADING THE DOCUMENTS.
WHEN SHE WOULD CALL, SHE WOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO VARIOUS VOICEMAILS.
FINALLY, SOMEONE PUT HER IN TOUCH WITH THE DIRECTOR OF VERONICA SOTO OF NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING AND SERVICES.
MS. SOTO WAS SO ATTENTIVE, SHE FOLLOWED UP WITH HER TO ENSURE SHE COMPLETED IT, AND SHE, MS. LINGO STATES THAT IF ALL PEOPLE IN CHARGE OF PROGRAMS WERE LIKE MS. SOTO, EVERYTHING WOULD BE EASIER.
THE NEXT COMMENT IS FROM KATHY MARTINEZ.
MS. MARTINEZ STATES SHE WAS FURLOUGHED FROM HER JOB IN MARCH, 2020.
SHE FOUND OUT ABOUT THE EMERGENCY ASSISTING PROGRAM, UM, THROUGH A ST.
UM, LATER ON, MS. ESMERALDA RODRIGUEZ, THE COPS LEADER, PUT HER IN TOUCH WITH MS. SOTO.
MS. SOTO CONTACTED HER RIGHT AWAY AND CORRECTED ERRORS THAT WERE ON HER APPLICATION.
IF IT WERE NOT FOR HER HELP, SHE WOULD'VE LOST THE OPPORTUNITY TO AS BE ASSISTED FINANCIALLY.
THE NEXT ONE IS FROM MS. LINDA DAVILA, COPS METRO LEADER ST.
MS. DAVILA STATES THAT COPS PER METRO IS A BROAD-BASED ORGANIZATION IN SAN ANTONIO, AND IT REPRESENTS ABOUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND RESIDENTS ACROSS THE CITY.
SHE STATED THAT COPS METRO WANTS TO COMMEND THE CITY FOR AN ADDITIONAL $27 MILLION ALLOCATED TO THE EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
THROUGH THE HOUSING PILLAR OF THE COVID COMMUNITY RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE PLAN.
SHE STATED THAT HOUSING IS ONE OF THE MOST BASIC HUMAN SAFETY NET NEEDS, AND COPS METRO WILL DO THEIR PART TO PREVENT EVICTIONS DUE TO NON-PAYMENT.
THE NEXT COMMENT IS FROM SISTER MARIA, PATRICIA OF OUR LADY OF ANGELS CATHOLIC CHURCH.
SHE STATES THAT SHE'S ALSO A COPS METRO LEADER.
SHE WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE GOODNESS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING AND SERVICES TEAM, ESPECIALLY MS. VERONICA SOTA SOTO, WHO HAS ASSISTED PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY TO GET THE ASSISTANCE FOR RENT AND UTILITIES.
SHE SAID SHE HAS SEEN THE RESULTS OF THE WORKLOAD OF THE PROGRAM AND HAS SEEN THE FACES OF RELIEF FOR THE FAMILIES.
THE NEXT COMMENT IS FROM, UH, A, A COUPLE CLAUDIA IDO.
IT SAYS, UH, IN IT WAS TRANSLATED FROM THE SPANISH.
IT SAYS THROUGH THIS SPACE, I WANT TO THANK THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FOR THE HELP THAT'S GIVEN ME TO PAY MY BACK RENT.
THANKS TO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM,
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WE HAVE AVOIDED LOSING OUR HOME, WHERE MY HUSBAND I AND OUR THREE DAUGHTERS LIVE, SINCERELY, CLAUDIA AND HERARDO.THE NEXT ONE IS FROM, UM, A RESIDENT NAMED ALMA.
IT IS TRANSLATED FROM THE SPANISH.
SHE STATES SHE'S RECEIVED ASSISTANCE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING AND SERVICES DEPARTMENT WHO HAVE PROVIDED THE SAME HELP TO SEVERAL FAMILIES LEFT MINE.
THE TRUTH IS, IN THESE TIMES OF GREAT NEED, I HAVE RECEIVED A SAVE FOR THREE MONTHS OF RENT AND $300 BEING TRANSFERRED TO MY ACCOUNT, WHICH I USED TO BUY FOOD THAT HAS BENEFITED ME.
WELL, I DO NOT HAVE A JOB, AND MY PARTNER WORKS TWO, THREE DAYS A WEEK.
SO THIS HAS HELPED ME GREATLY DURING THE PANDEMIC.
THE NEXT COMMENT IS FROM SISTER MARIA.
SHE SAID SHE NEEDS TO SHARE THE IMMENSE JOY OF A SINGLE MOTHER OF THREE TEENAGERS.
UH, SHE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF UNEMPLOYMENT FROM HER CATERING JOB ON THE EDGE OF BEING EVICTED TWICE.
THANKFULLY, MS. VERONICA SOTO AND MS. PERALTA FROM NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES, LEGAL AID MADE THIS FAMILY AWARE OF THE AID NEEDED SO SHE WAS NOT EVICTED.
SHE STATES, YOU LITERALLY BECAME THE REAL HEROES FOR THIS FAMILY THAT WAS ABLE TO SAY TO CITY HAD HER BACK, AND THAT SHE WAS NOT ALONE BECAUSE MANY HELPING HANDS BROUGHT HER BACK ON HER FEET.
SHE SAYS, GOD BLESS THE HANDS, FEET AND TIREDNESS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES TEAM FOR AN AWESOME JOB.
THEY ANSWER TO CALL TO SERVE THEIR BROTHERS SISTERS.
I PLACED BEFORE YOU THE LIVING REASONS FOR THIS PROGRAM TO CONTINUE.
THE LAST COMMENT IS FROM SISTER JANE SLATER COBBS METRO LEADER.
I URGE THE CITY TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR NEEDIEST RESIDENTS TO MEET THEIR RENTAL COSTS.
IT HAS NOT BEEN AN EASY PROCESS DUE TO THE RAPIDITY WITH WHICH TO PROCEDURES NEED TO BE SET UP AND STAFFED TO BE TRAINED.
HOUSING IS SUCH A BASIC RIGHT FOR EACH PERSON.
WE MUST DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SEE THERE ARE PEOPLE STAY IN THEIR HOMES.
THAT IS THE END OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT, SIR, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND, UH, UH, THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND A REAL TRIBUTE TO THE HARD WORK THAT, UH, EVERYBODY AT CITY, CITY STAFF AND, UH, SPECIFICALLY NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES IS DOING, UM, TRULY IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.
[1. 20-3985 Briefing and Possible Action on the implementation plans for the strategies within the Housing Security Pillar of the COVID19 Recovery and Resilience Plan. The strategies to be presented are the Digital Referral Platform for Joint Case Management, Homeless shelter options with services, and Domestic Violence prevention and intervention strategies.]
THE NUMBER ONE ITEM.UH, FIRST ITEM BRIEFING AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON IMPLEMENTATION PLANS FOR THE STRATEGIES WITHIN THE HOUSING SECURITY PILLAR.
THIS FIRST ITEM IS GOING TO BE, UM, PRESENTED BY MELODY.
UM, MELODY WOOSLEY AND, UM, IAN BENAVIDES AND MYSELF.
MELANIE IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT THREE STRATEGIES, UM, THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE HOUSING WORKFORCE PILLAR, THE ONE ON HOMELESSNESS, THE ONE ON, UM, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND ALSO THE ONE ON CREATING A PLATFORM TO HELP US WITH CASE MANAGEMENT.
AND THEN SHE'LL KICK IT OVER TO IAN VEDA, WHO'S GONNA TALK ABOUT OUR EVICTION PREVENTION EFFORTS.
AND THEN I WILL CLOSE OUT WITH AN UPDATE ON THE EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND OUR RIGHT TO COUNSEL PROGRAM.
SO MEL, I'LL KICK IT OVER TO YOU FIRST.
AND SO YOU'VE ALL SEEN THIS SLIDE BEFORE.
WE CONTINUE TO SHOW IT AS A REMINDER OF OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES THAT, AND THESE PRINCIPLES ARE DRIVING EVERY ASPECT OF THE RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE PLANNING PROCESS.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT STARTS WITH ENSURING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF CITY EMPLOYEES AND THE COMMUNITY EMBEDDING EQUITY IN EVERY ASPECT OF THE PLAN FROM DECISION MAKING TO IMPLEMENTATION, BRAIDING LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING STREAMS TO MAXIMIZE IMPACT, INCLUDING COORDINATION WITH KEY PARTNERS, PROVIDING RESOURCES TO HELP HOUSEHOLDS AND BUSINESSES REMAIN RESILIENT.
THIS IS ESPECIALLY CRITICAL FOR TRADITIONALLY MARGINALIZED RESIDENTS WHO ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY C OVID 19 AND STRENGTHENING FAMILY WELLBEING BY CONTINUING TO SUPPORT AND COORDINATE WITH THRIVING NONPROFIT PARTNERS.
AND SO THE STRATEGIES THAT WE WILL DISCUSS TODAY ARE ALIGNED WITH A NUMBER OF ADOPTED PLANS AND REPORTS THE CITY AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS RELEASED PRE C OVID 19.
THESE RECENT REPORTS INCLUDE SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY INPUT AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT, UM, INCLUDING THE MAYOR'S HOUSING POLICY FRAMEWORK, COMPREHENSIVE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PLAN, THE POVERTY REPORT, OUR HOMELESS STRATEGIC PLAN, AND THE RACIAL EQUITY INDICATOR REPORT THROUGH THE OFFICE OF EQUITY.
THIS PLAN ALSO REFLECTS COMMUNITY INPUT, NEW DATA AND COMMUNITY NEEDS FROM THE C OVID 19 COMMUNITY ACTION WORKING GROUPS, AS WELL AS THE C OVID 19 COMMUNITY AND HOMELESS HOTLINES.
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USED THIS IMPORTANT REPORTS TO DEVELOP, UM, REPORTS DEALT DEVELOPED BOTH PRIOR TO AND DURING THE COVID RELIEF EFFORT TO DESIGN STRATEGIES THAT WILL STRENGTHEN THE RELI RESILIENCE OF VULNERABLE RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO WERE EXPERIENCING BARRIERS TO ECONOMIC MOBILITY PRE C OVID 19.SO AMONG THE MOST IMPORTANT GUIDING PRINCIPLE IS ENSURING THAT EQUITY AND ENGAGEMENT ARE EMBEDDED IN EACH STEP OF THIS PLAN.
AND TO ACHIEVE, ACHIEVE THIS ON A BASIC LEVEL, WE WILL TARGET OUTREACH BASED ON IDENTIFICATION OF NEIGHBORHOODS WITH THE HIGHEST EQUITY SCORES, MEANING THAT MORE POINTS ARE ASSIGNED TO A CENSUS BLOCK THAT HAS A HIGHER THAN CITYWIDE AVERAGE CONCENTRATION OF PEOPLE OF COLOR AND PEOPLE BELOW THE AVERAGE MEDIAN INCOME.
HIGHER SCORE MEANS HIGHER DISTRESS AND MORE DISPARITY ON A PROGRAMMATIC LEVEL.
WE WILL PRIORITIZE, PRIORITIZE SERVICES AND RESOURCES FOR THE MOST MARGINALIZED RESIDENTS IDENTIFIED FOR EACH STRATEGY AT THE DECISION MAKING LEVEL.
WE WILL COLLECT AND INCORPORATE FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, STAKEHOLDERS, AND INDIVIDUALS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUALLY ADJUST AND IMPROVE SERVICES.
AND WE WILL USE DATA TO ASSESS PARTICIPANT OUTCOMES BY RACE, INCOME, GENDER, AND OTHER FACTORS TO ENSURE THAT MARGINALIZED RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITIES ACHIEVE EQUITY IN OUTCOMES AS WELL AS ACCESS TO SERVICES AND TO, TO REALLY TRACK THESE OUTCOMES, WE WILL USE THE RESULTS-BASED ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM, BUT A RACIAL FRAMEWORK THAT GOES WITH THAT TO EVALUATE PROGRAM IMPACT, MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AT EACH STAGE OF IMPLEMENTATION, AND ENSURE THAT, UM, THOSE POPULATIONS WHO WE KNOW ARE MOST IMPACTED BY C OVID 19 HAVE EASY ACCESS TO SERVICES THAT HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS.
AND SO, COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU'VE ALSO SEEN THIS SLIDE BEFORE, THE HOUSING SECURITY PILLAR THAT THIS COMMITTEE IS FOCUSING ON INCLUDES 50.5 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS TO HELP INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN FINANCIAL AND HOUSING STABILITY.
THIS CHART SHOWS THE BREAKDOWN OF THE HOUSING SECURITY PILLAR BY ITS EIGHT STRATEGIES LAST WEEK, NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES AND HUMAN SERVICES PRESENTED ON THE FINANCIAL AND HOUSING RECOVERY STRATEGIES SHADED IN, UH, BLUE GRAY, THE FAMILY INDEPENDENCE INITIATIVE, THE FINANCIAL AND HOUSING RECOVERY CENTER, AS WELL AS DOOR-TO-DOOR ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES.
AND TODAY I WILL BRIEF YOU ON THE REMAINING PILLAR HOUSING PILLAR STRATEGIES THAT ARE SHADED IN RED.
UM, THESE INCLUDE ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND A COMMUNITY-WIDE CASE MANAGEMENT PLATFORM.
AND SO WE ARE COLLABORATING WITH BEXAR COUNTY AND THE SOUTH ALAMO REGIONAL ALLIANCE FOR THE HOMELESS ON A JOINT COMPETITIVE PROCESS TO AWARD CARESS ACT EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT FUNDING TO NONPROFIT HOMELESS SERVICES PROVIDERS.
THIS JOINT PROCESS WILL ENSURE COORDINATION AMONG FUNDERS SIMPLIFY THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR PROSPECTIVE AGENCIES AND REDUCE GAPS IN DUPLICATION OF SERVICES.
SO THE COLLABORATIVE, UM, COMMUNITY PROCESS, UM, I THINK I JUST DID THIS SLIDE.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE ESTABLISHING A HOMELESS DIVERSION FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF 250,000 TO QUICKLY AND SAFELY PROVIDE IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE TO CLIENTS AT THE RISK OF HOMELESSNESS, IN COORDINATION WITH NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES AND HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. THIS WOULD INCLUDE MOVING COSTS, DEPOSITS, FAMILY REUNIFICATION, EXPANDING BED CAPACITY, AND IMPROVING SOCIAL DISTANCING AND EMERGENCY HOMELESS SHELTERS BY CONTINUING OUR CURRENT LEASE AND AGREEMENT WITH HAVEN FOR HOPE TO OPERATE A 313 UNIT HOTEL, WHICH WILL PROVIDE TEMPORARY SHELTER TO AN ESTIMATED 500 HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS THROUGH THE END OF THIS YEAR.
THIS COMPONENT FREES UP A ROOM FOR NEWLY HOMELESS AND OFFERS A BRIDGE TO PERMANENT HOUSING.
WE ARE ESTABLISHING INTERDISCIPLINARY HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAMS TO ENGAGE AND CONNECT UNSHELTERED HOMELESS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY TO SHELTER SERVICES AND HOUSING.
IN MANY WAYS, THIS MODEL IS SIMILAR TO THE MODEL CREATED LAST YEAR IN DISTRICT 10, WHERE WE HAVE A HOMELESS OUTREACH WORKER OR A CLINICIAN WORKING WITH, UM, SAFE OFFICERS IN THAT DISTRICT.
OUTREACH STRATEGIES ALSO INCLUDE CREATING ADDITIONAL OUTREACH CAPACITY AT THE HOMELESS RESOURCE HUB, THE NEW DOWNTOWN COOLING
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STATION FOR HOMELESS AT SAN FERNANDO GYM AND THE HOMELESS HOTLINE.AND FINALLY, A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF FUNDING WILL BE PROVIDED FOR RAPID REHOUSING AND HOMELESS PREVENTION FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS TO STAYING HOUSED.
THIS FUNDING WILL BE CONTRACTED TO NONPROFIT PROVIDERS TO EXPAND PERMANENT HOUSING TO MORE THAN 400 HOMELESS, TO INCLUDE UP TO 24 MONTHS OF RENT AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE WITH CASE MANAGEMENT, HOUSING NAVIGATION, AND OTHER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.
AND SO, WE WILL CONTINUE TO COORDINATE WITH NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO ALIGN OUR HOMELESS PREVENTION SHELTER AND PERMANENT HOUSING CONTINUUM SO THAT WE CAN MAXIMIZE THESE FEDERAL RESOURCES.
OUR OUTREACH TEAMS, HOMELESS HOTLINE AND FINANCIAL AND HOUSING RECOVERY CENTERS WILL SERVE AS ENTRY POINTS TO THIS COMMUNITY FOR THOSE WHO ARE NEWLY HOMELESS.
HOMELESS SERVICE PROVIDERS WILL USE A VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT THAT CONSIDERS EQUITY FACTORS AND THE CLIENT NEEDS TO PRIORITIZE HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES FOR HOUSING OPTIONS AND PROVIDE CASE MANAGEMENT AND SERVICES ALONG THE WAY.
AND SO THE ULTIMATE GOAL REALLY IS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND CASE MANAGEMENT TO TRANSITION HOMELESS TO HOUSING AND HELP THEM MAINTAIN STABILITY THROUGH AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF, UM, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.
AND SO WE THINK THIS IS A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE SOME OF OUR MORE CHRONIC AND LONG-TERM HOMELESS PEOPLE INTO HOUSING.
FOR HOMELESSNESS PROGRAMS, EQUITY AND ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES WILL INCLUDE PARTICIPATION OF STAKEHOLDERS IN THE APPLICATION AND EVALUATION PROCESS, INCLUDING CURRENTLY OR FORMALLY HOMELESS.
OUTREACH AND SERVICES WILL BE PRIORITIZED BASED ON DATA ANALYSIS AND IDENTIFIED NEEDS.
AND THE, UH, RESULTS BASED ACCOUNTABILITY FRAMEWORK, UH, RACIAL FRAMEWORK, WHICH WILL HELP EVALUATE THE OVERALL PROGRAM IMPACT.
AND WE WILL WORK WITH SARAH, THE SAN ANTONIO REGIONAL ALLIANCE FOR THE HOMELESS HAVEN FOR HOPES H M I S TEAM AND BEXAR COUNTY TO ANALYZE COMMUNITY DATA AND PROGRAM BY RACE.
SO, THE TIMELINE FOR THIS STRATEGY AND THE HOUSING PILLAR HOMELESSNESS STRATEGY, UM, IMPLEMENTATION REALLY HAS ALREADY BEGUN WITH THE FUNDING COMPETITION WITH BEXAR COUNTY AND SARAH, WHICH CLOSES THIS WEEK, AND FUNDING SOLUTION SELECTIONS WILL BE MADE BY EARLY JULY.
WE WILL MOVE QUICKLY TO AWARD CONTRACTS TO OUR HOMELESS PROVIDERS, EXPAND OUTREACH SO THAT WE CAN BEGIN MOVING HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES INTO PERMANENT HOUSING FUNDING FROM THE HUD.
GRANT CARES FUND CONTINUES THROUGH F Y 2022, AND SO WE HAVE A COUPLE OF YEARS TO STABILIZE AND HOUSE, UM, OVER A THOUSAND HOMELESS THROUGH THESE THESE PROGRAMS. NEXT SLIDE.
THE HOUSING PILLAR ALSO INCLUDES DEDICATED FUNDING TO ADDRESS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
AND SO, AS BACKGROUND, THE FISCAL YEAR 2020 ADOPTED BUDGET INCLUDES 3 MILLION TO SUPPORT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION SERVICES, AND THAT'S IN THE HUMAN SERVICES AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT BUDGETS.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IS ALSO INCLUDED FOR CRISIS INTERVENTION IN THE SS A P D BUDGET.
THROUGH THE RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE PLAN, AN ADDITIONAL 3.3 MILLION IN FUNDING IS ADDED TO EXPAND CAPACITY TO ADDRESS INCREASED INCIDENTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THAT ARE DUE TO C OVID 19.
THE STRATEGIES INCLUDED IN THE RECOVERY PLAN EXPAND ON THE EXISTING WORK THAT WAS IDENTIFIED WITH THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS THE COLLABORATIVE COMMISSION ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AS HIGH PRIORITY.
THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE STRATEGY COMBINES COMMUNITY-WIDE PREVENTION AND EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS WITH DIRECT SERVICES, INCLUDING THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, HIGH RISK TEAMS, AND COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY FOR CHILDREN EXPOSED TO VIOLENCE.
BY DECEMBER OF 2020, THE STAY POSITIVE PARENTING CAMPAIGN WILL HAVE GENERATED AT LEAST 2 MILLION MEDIA IMPRESSIONS.
AT AT LEAST 400 FAMILIES WILL HAVE ENROLLED IN THE ONLINE PARENTING PROGRAM AND 200 PROFESSIONALS, MOSTLY TEACHERS WILL PARTICIPATE IN ONLINE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES.
BY MAY OF NEXT YEAR, AT LEAST A THOUSAND THERAPY SESSIONS WILL HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO STUDENTS EXPERIENCING VIOLENCE IN THEIR HOMES.
AND BY JUNE OF 2021, THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HIGH RISK TEAM WILL HAVE PROVIDED CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO 400 HIGH RISK FAMILIES.
AND SO, BEFORE I MOVE ON, I DO WANNA SHOW YOU HOW ECO EQUITY IS EMBEDDED IN THESE, UH, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE STRATEGIES.
THE COMPREHENSIVE, UM, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PLAN, WHICH PROVIDED THE FOUNDATION FOR
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THE STRATEGIES IDENTIFIED FOR UM, CARES ACT FUNDING WAS DEVELOPED IN COORDINATION WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND WITH COMMUNITY INPUT.THE ACTIVE AND ONGOING ENGAGEMENT OF THE COLLABORATIVE COMMISSION ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WITH EVERY ASPECT OF THIS WORK ENSURES THE CITY IS RECEIVING FEEDBACK AND WE ARE ABLE TO ADJUST THROUGH CONSISTENT OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH CLIENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS.
ADDITIONALLY, THROUGH CARES ACT FUNDING, THE CITY WILL BE PARTNERING WITH U T S H TO SURVEY THE COMMUNITY REGARDING THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES AND HOW COVID HAS CHANGED THE NEEDS OF FAMILIES WHO ARE EXPERIENCING VIOLENCE.
AND SO, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THESE STRATEGIES AMPLIFY EXISTING WORK TO BETTER SUPPORT FAMILIES AS THEY NAVIGATE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS.
IMPLEMENTATION BEGINS QUICKLY WITH THE LAUNCH OF THE EXPANDED MEDIA CAMPAIGN IN JULY, THE ONLINE PARENTING PROGRAM IN AUGUST, AND A PROGRAM EVALUATION AND ASSESSMENT TO BE COMPLETED BY DECEMBER.
THE FINAL STRATEGY, UM, THAT I'LL DISCUSS TODAY IS THE DIGITAL REFERRAL AND SERVICE PLATFORM TO PROVIDE INTEGRATED CASE MANAGEMENT AND REFERRAL FOR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS ACROSS THE CITY AS TECHNOLOGY SOLUTION WILL STREAMLINE INFORMATION SHARING AND COORDINATION OF CLIENT NEEDS ACROSS DEPARTMENTS, UH, PROGRAMS, AND NONPROFIT AGENCIES TO BUILD A REFERRAL NETWORK THAT HELPS CLIENTS NAVIGATE THROUGH SYSTEMS TO BETTER MEET THEIR NEEDS.
THIS TECHNOLOGY WOULD TRACK CLIENT PROGRESS AND OUTCOMES ACROSS CITY DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING AND SERVICES DEPARTMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, METRO HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES STAFF RECOMMENDS BUILDING ON EXISTING COMMUNITY JOINT CASE MANAGEMENT EFFORTS.
AND WE ARE WORKING WITH I T S D TO EXPLORE A TOOL CURRENTLY USED BY SEVERAL NETWORKS IN SAN ANTONIO.
WITH THIS SYSTEM IN PLACE FOR DEPARTMENTS, WE WOULD THEN LINK MORE THAN 70 FUNDED HUMAN SERVICES AGENCIES SERVING MANY OF THE SAME CLIENTS.
WE EXPECT THAT 95% OF ENROLLED FAMILIES WOULD RECEIVE TWO OR MORE REFERRALS TO THE OUTCOMES OF THEIR, THE PROGRAMS THEY'RE ENGAGED IN, AND THAT 90% OF REFERRED FAMILIES WOULD ACTUALLY ACCESS THOSE SERVICES ASSISTED BY THE CLOSE CONNECTION AND SEAMLESS HANDOFF OF INFORMATION.
AND SO MANY OF THE FAMILIES THAT, UH, WE SERVE ARE HIGHLY VULNERABLE.
THEY ARE RACIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY MARGINALIZED AND DISCONNECTED FROM SOCIAL SERVICE SYSTEMS AND SUPPORTS.
THIS SYSTEM PROVIDES US WITH A CRITICAL OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER INDIVIDUALIZED CARE FOR FAMILIES SO THAT WE CAN CONNECT VULNERABLE RESIDENTS TO SERVICES THAT WILL BEST MEET THEIR NEEDS, FOLLOW THEIR PROGRESS, AND OFFER INTERVENTIONS AS NEEDED.
ADDITIONALLY, WE WILL USE, UM, THIS RESULTS-BASED ACCOUNTABILITY FRAMEWORK MODEL TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF INTERVENTIONS BY RACE AND ETHNIC AND ETHNICITY, AS WELL AS INCOME AND OTHER FACTORS.
THIS WILL INFORM ADJUSTMENTS TO INDIVIDUAL CASE MANAGEMENT PLANS AND IMPROVEMENT TO OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF DISENFRANCHISED RESIDENTS.
WE ARE ALREADY WORKING WITH I T S D AND OUR SISTER DEPARTMENTS TO DEVELOP THE BUSINESS CASE AND THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS.
WE PLAN TO ROLL OUT THE FIRST PHASE WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS EARLY NEXT YEAR WITH THE GOAL OF FULL IMPLEMENTATION ACROSS PARTNER AGENCIES BY MID 2020.
AND SO NOW I WILL, UH, GO AHEAD AND TURN THIS PRESENTATION OVER TO IAN DEDIS OF NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
CAN WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE? AS LORI STATED, I'M GONNA COVER SOME EVICTION PROTECTIONS, UH, OUR EVICTION COURT INTERVENTIONS AND OUR NOTICE OF TENANTS RIGHTS BEFORE I PASS IT BACK TO LORI TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
AS WE KNOW, TEXAS SUPREME COURT ALLOWED EVICTION HEARINGS TO START TWO WEEKS AGO.
UM, BUT THERE'S STILL SOME FEDERAL PROTECTIONS THAT ARE IN PLACE.
THE CARESS ACT INCLUDED PROTECTIONS FOR ANY PROPERTIES THAT HAVE A FEDERALLY BACKED MORTGAGE OR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE UP UNTIL JULY 25TH.
SO WHEN THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT ALLOW EVICTION HEARINGS TO START, THEY REQUIRED A SWORN PETITION BY ANY EVICTION NOTICE TO INCLUDE THAT SWORN PETITION STATING THAT THE PROPERTY IS NOT COVERED UNDER THOSE CARES PROTECTIONS.
UH, WE DID A, AN ESTIMATE, UM, A CALCULATION THAT 50% OF ALL RENTAL PROPERTIES WITHIN SAN ANTONIO ARE COVERED UNDER THE CARESS PROPERTY, AND WE HAVE A TOOL ONLINE ON OUR CARESS ACT HOMEPAGE THAT ALLOWS YOU TO SEE IF YOU ARE COVERED UNDER THOSE PROTECTIONS.
SINCE THE LAST TIME WE TALKED, FANNIE MAE AND FREDDIE MAC HAVE EXTENDED THEIR SINGLE FAMILY MORATORIUM
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ON FORECLOSURES UNTIL AT LEAST AUGUST 31ST, AND WE'VE UPDATED THAT ON OUR WEBSITE.AND AS THINGS CHANGE, WE'LL CONTINUE TO UPDATE.
AS A RECAP OF SOME OF THE INTERVENTIONS THAT WE ARE DOING, UM, WE ARE WORKING WITH BEXAR COUNTY AND THE JP COURTS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND EACH HEARING NOTICE THAT GOES OUT TO BOTH PLAINTIFF AND DEFENDANT, AND IT ALSO INCLUDES A SPECIAL HOTLINE FOR CASES SO THAT THEY CAN CALL AND GET RENTAL INFORMATION.
THE HOPE IS, IS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT RENTAL ASSISTANCE AT BOTH THE CITY AND COUNTY LEVEL TO HELP THE LANDLORD AND TENANTS, UM, REACH AN AGREEMENT BEFORE REACHING EVICTION COURT AND HAVING THAT CASE DISMISSED.
WE HAVE IN COURT TEAMS, BOTH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY HAVE BEEN PRESENT FOR EVERY HEARING.
UH, IN ADDITION, WE HAVE T R A WHO HAS OUR RIGHT TO COUNT, RIGHT TO COUNSEL ATTORNEYS THERE TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT STAFF AND ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS THAT MAY COME UP.
WE'VE ALSO EXPANDED OUR RIGHT TO COUNSEL SERVICES AS WE SPOKE LAST TIME.
UM, AND THIS INCLUDES AN EXPANSION OF TLAS CONTRACT AS WELL AS, UH, AN ADDITIONAL CONTRACT WITH SAN ANTONIO LEGAL SERVICES ASSOCIATION TO PROVIDE PRO BONO COUNSELING TO RESIDENTS.
WE HAVE SOME CONTINGENCY BUILT IN TO BE ABLE TO USE ADDITIONAL FUNDING AS NEEDED, EITHER AT THE COURTS FOR OR FOR ADDITIONAL CASE MANAGEMENT.
THIS WILL ALSO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL KNOW YOUR RIGHTS TRAINING.
AN EXAMPLE OF THIS WAS AT THE ALMOST CLUB APARTMENTS THAT WE'RE ALL AWARE OF THAT HAVE HOSTED A KNOW YOUR RIGHTS TRAINING WITH ALL THE RESIDENTS AFTER THAT INCIDENT.
AND THEN T R A IS CURRENTLY HELPING WITH EAP OUTREACH TO VULNERABLE RESIDENTS, AND WE LOOK TO CONTINUE THAT PARTNERSHIP.
BEFORE I GO INTO SOME OF THE RESULTS TO DATE AT THE COURT, I DO WANNA UPDATE ALL THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS THAT DUE TO THE RISE OF CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS, SOME OF THE PRECINCT ARE TAKING SOME SAFETY MEASURES.
UM, PRECINCT ONE, PLACE TWO WILL BE CLOSED STARTING THURSDAY.
UH, AND I JUST ACTUALLY HEARD THAT PLACE ONE WILL MOST LIKELY BE CLOSED STARTING NEXT WEEK, AND THEY WILL NOT BE HAVING ANY VIRTUAL COURT HEARINGS, SO THEY WILL BE CLOSED.
PRECINCT TWO AND FOUR ARE CLOSED AS OF TODAY WITH NO VIRTUAL HEARINGS AND PRECINCT THREE AS OF RIGHT NOW IS CLOSE TO IN-PERSON, BUT WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE, UH, VIRTUAL HEARINGS FOR ONE HOUR EVERY DAY THIS WEEK.
AND WE'RE HEARING THAT THEY MAY STOP THAT NEXT WEEK OR LATER THIS WEEK, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO KEEP COUNSEL UPDATED.
UM, AS THAT PROGRESSES, THEY WILL ALL THE PRECINCTS WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE FILINGS, HOWEVER, AND SO WE'LL KEEP, WE'LL KEEP AN EYE OUT ON THAT.
SO THE TABLE BELOW KIND OF SHOWS THE RESULTS TO DATE.
I HAVE 'EM BROKEN 'EM DOWN BY PRECINCT AND TOTALS.
WE'VE HAD 250 CASES DISMISSED.
UM, THIS COULD BE FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.
UH, THE TENANT OR LANDLORD MAY HAVE REACHED AN AGREEMENT DUE TO STIMULUS MONEY, UM, OR OTHER ASSISTANCE INCLUDING RENTAL ASSISTANCE OR THE UNIT MAY HAVE BEEN VACATED.
DEFAULT JUDGMENTS ARE WHERE THE TENANT DOES NOT SHOW UP FOR COURT.
THIS IS VERY, VERY COMMON, BUT THESE CASES, UM, ACTUALLY STARTED BACK FROM JANUARY.
SO THIS IS A VERY LONG TIME PERIOD THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
SO WE EXPECT THAT A LOT OF THOSE DEFAULT JUDGMENTS RESETS ARE WHERE THE JUDGE ASKS BOTH TO COME BACK AFTER THEY AGREE TO WORK OUT SOMETHING.
THIS IS USUALLY DUE TO US, UM, BEING ABLE TO OFFER RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
SO THE JUDGE RESETS PENDING THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE, AND AS THEY COME BACK, THEY'LL DISMISS THE CASE JUDGMENT FOR PLAINTIFF.
UM, SO THAT'S IF THEY CONTINUE WITH THE HEARING THAT THE, UH, JUDGMENT DOES GO IN THE PLAINTIFF'S.
UM, IN THE PLAINTIFF'S WAY, THIS IS VERY COMMON.
UM, USUALLY IF THERE IS A LEASE INVOLVED AND THERE'S A VIOLATION OF THAT LEASE, THE JUDGE USUALLY RULES IN FAVOR OF THE PLAINTIFF.
IN TOTAL, WE'VE HAD 94 STAFF INTERACTIONS, 89 WITH CITY STAFF AND FIVE WITH COUNTY STAFF.
WE CONTINUE TO UP THIS DAILY AND WEEKLY OF THOSE 70 HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS THROUGH THE CITY OR THE COUNTY.
11 HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO A RIGHT TO COUNCIL PROGRAM, AND 10 HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO RELOCATION ASSISTANCE.
AS I MENTIONED IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, ONE OF THE INTERVENTIONS THAT WE'RE DOING IS WORKING WITH THE COURTS ON THOSE MAIL-OUTS.
UM, SINCE THIS HAS STARTED, WE'VE HAD 91 PEOPLE CALL THAT HOTLINE AND BEEN REFERRED TO EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO ATTRACT THAT NUMBER AS IT INCREASES.
OVERALL, WE'RE SEEING SOME VERY POSITIVE SIGNS.
UM, THE LANDLORDS ARE CONNECTING THEIR TENANTS TO US PROACTIVELY AS THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROGRAM.
AND JUDGES ARE REALLY ENCOURAGING LANDLORDS TO WORK WITH US TO REDUCE OUR WAIVE FEES, TO BE ABLE TO REACH SETTLEMENTS.
AND THIS IS BEING SEEN AT EVERY COURT OVERALL.
UH, AND THE COURTS HAVE BEEN VERY HAPPY TO HAVE US IN THERE.
THERE'S, I MEAN, EVERY STORY IS A SUCCESS STORY, BUT TO GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE, UM, STORIES THAT REALLY POP OUT TO ALL OF OUR STAFF, WE'VE HAD RESTAURANT WORKERS.
WE KNOW THAT THE SERVICE INDUSTRY WAS HIT VERY HARD WITH COVID, WHO WAS ABLE TO GET CAUGHT UP ON RENT AND AVOID EVICTION AND ACTUALLY WORK WITH HER LANDLORD TO APPLY.
WE'VE HAD A LANDLORD FROM P THREE WHO LEARNED ABOUT OUR PROGRAM AND, AND THE FLYER THAT HE RECEIVED IN THE MAIL AND WAS ABLE TO GIVE IT TO HIS TENANTS AND HAVE 10 OF THEM CALL US.
SO THAT'S AGAIN, ANOTHER PROACTIVE, SPREADING THE WORD, ABLE TO MITIGATE A LOT OF THE DISPLACEMENT AND EVICTIONS.
WE'VE HAD A SINGLE MOM FROM PRECINCT TWO WHO JUST HAD HER SECOND CHILD IN FEBRUARY.
[00:30:01]
UM, SHE GOT CAUGHT UP ON RENT AND HER CASE WAS DISMISSED AS THEY SHOWED UP TO THE COURTS AND THEN RELATED TO A RIGHT TO COUNSEL PROGRAM.AND OUR COURT, OUR COURT PROGRAM, A TENANT WHO WAS LOCKED OUT OF ALMOST CLUB, UM, WAS ABLE TO FILE SUIT, UM, THROUGH A RIGHT TO COUNSEL PROGRAM AND WON HER SUIT ON JU ON JUNE 23RD.
IN ADDITION, COUNCIL APPROVED LAST WEEK A NOTICE OF TENANT'S RIGHTS ON, ON JUNE 25TH.
AND THIS BECOMES EFFECTIVE 30 DAYS AFTER CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL.
SO ON JULY 25TH, UM, WE KNOW THAT WHEN TENANTS RECEIVE, UH, NOTICE TO VACATE OR AN EVICTION NOTICE, THERE'S A LOT OF CONFUSION ON WHAT'S HAPPENING, WHAT IT MEANS, WHAT THE PROCESS IS.
AND A LOT OF THOSE RESIDENTS END UP VACATING THE UNITS PRIOR TO EVEN SHOWING UP TO COURT, WHICH IS WHY WE SEE A LOT OF THEM AS DEFAULT JUDGEMENTS.
SO THE ORDINANCE, AGAIN, JUST AS A QUICK RECAP, REQUIRES MANDATORY NOTIFICATION WITH A NOTICE TO VACATE FOR NON-PAYMENT OF RENT.
IT'LL BE PROVIDED IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
WE PRESENTED THIS TO HOUSING COMMISSION LAST WEEK, AND THEY RECOMMENDED ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE, INCLUDING FRENCH AND ARABIC.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH THE COURTS, UM, OUR RIGHT TO COUNSEL AND OTHER STAKEHOLDER GROUPS TO SEE IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL LANGUAGES THAT WE CAN INCORPORATE.
THE LANG THE NOTICE OF TENANT'S RIGHTS IN IT EMPHASIZES THAT A NOTICE TO VACATE DOES NOT REQUIRE THE TENANT TO LEAVE THE PREMISES, ADVISES OF A PAYMENT PLAN WITH LANDLORD, MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S GOOD COMMUNICATION, PROVIDES RESOURCES FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND FAIR HOUSING.
IT OUTLINES THAT EVIC EVICTION PROCESS SO THEY KNOW HOW MUCH TIME THEY HAVE AND THOSE, IT BASICALLY PROVIDES THEM THE RESOURCES AND TIMELINE TO BE ABLE TO RESOLVE THESE CASES BEFORE VACATING.
AND THEN THIS ALSO APPLIES BEYOND THE EMERGENCY PERIOD.
SO THIS IS NOT JUST A COVID MEASURE, THIS IS A FUTURE MEASURE AS WELL.
AND IT APPLIES TO ALL LANDLORDS WITHIN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
NEXT SLIDE, BECAUSE THIS WAS JUST APPROVED LAST WEEK, WE'VE ALREADY STARTED OUR OUTREACH AND EDUCATION.
WE'RE GONNA BE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE TENANTS.
UM, SO MY, SOME EXAMPLES OF THIS, AND WE WERE OPEN TO COUNCIL FEEDBACK ON THIS, ON ADDITIONAL GROUPS THAT WE SHOULD REACH OUT TO, BUT INCLUDES OUR FAIR HOUSING HOTLINE INDIVIDUALS WHO OUR EMERGENCY HOUSING APPLICANTS.
WE HAVE A VERY GOOD LIST OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE RECEIVED ASSISTANCE, A RISK MITIGATION FUND, STAKEHOLDER GROUP, A RIGHT TO COUNCIL STAKEHOLDER GROUP.
AND WE'VE WORKED WITH THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION ON THIS NOTICE.
SO WE'LL BE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THEIR LANDLORDS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND TRAINING.
SAN ANTONIO BOARD OF REALTORS, THE REAL ESTATE COUNCIL, HOUSING PROVIDERS, AND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REAL ESTATE AND PROPERTY MANAGERS.
AND THEN ADDITION, LEVERAGING SOME OF THOSE COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT WE'VE USED FOR EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING COPS, METRO CATHOLIC CHARITIES, T R L A AND TOP.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL PASS IT OVER TO LORI TO TALK ABOUT OUR EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
UM, I WANNA THANK IAN AND HIS TEAM.
THEY'VE REALLY DONE A GREAT JOB AT THE COURTS, AND THE JPS HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL.
THEY GIVE SEVERAL OF THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO SPEAK AT THE COURT.
THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR PRESENCE AT THE COURT SO PEOPLE KNOW THAT THE CITY AND COUNTY ARE HERE TO ASSIST THEM.
IT'S BEEN A GREAT PARTNERSHIP AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE WORKING WITH THEM POST COVID AS WELL.
UM, THE EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT'S BEING LED BY EDWARD GONZALEZ AND HIS TEAM, UM, EDWARD AND VERO ARE KIND OF TAG TEAMING.
VERO IS HANDLING THE CALL CENTER AND EDWARD'S ACTUALLY HANDLING A LOT OF THE INTAKE AND PROCESSING PROCESS.
UM, CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THIS PROGRAM ON APRIL 23RD.
IF YOU RECALL, IT WAS REALLY KIND OF A, A MORE ROBUST RISK MITIGATION FUND.
UM, WE ADDED A COUPLE THINGS MAINLY THAT INCREASED IN INTERNET, SO YOU COULD GET YOUR INTERNET EXPENSES PAID AND ALSO THE CASH ASSISTANCE OF UP TO $300.
UM, TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS PROGRAM, YOU HAVE TO BE AT LEAST AT A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE AREA IMMEDIATE INCOME, WHICH IS ABOUT $72,000 FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR.
AND YOU MUST PROVIDE A PROOF OF HARDSHIP RELATED TO C OVID 19.
THAT COULD BE, YOU'VE LOST YOUR JOB, YOU FILED FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, YOU'VE HAD A REDUCTION IN WAGES.
UM, IT COULD EVEN BE YOU'VE HAD TO WORK FROM HOME AND YOU'RE TAKING CARE OF YOUR CHILDREN BECAUSE SCHOOL IS CLOSED.
SO WE'RE BEING VERY, VERY, UM, FLEXIBLE IN WHAT A HARDSHIP IT IS.
UM, TO BE ELIGIBLE, YOU MUST PROVIDE A COPY OF IDENTIFICATION, A SIGNED LEASE OR MORTGAGE STATEMENT.
WE MUST BE ABLE TO VERIFY YOUR INCOME, BUT WE WORK WITH THE TENANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN VERIFY THAT.
THAT COULD BE THROUGH BANK ACCOUNT RECORDS, THAT COULD BE THROUGH, UM, THEIR TAX RECORDS.
WE WORK WITH 'EM TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN DO SOME TYPE OF INCOME VERIFICATION, AND THEN THEY MUST, UM, STATE WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE GETTING OTHER BENEFITS.
UM, THIS IS REQUIREMENTS AS WE'RE USING FEDERAL FUNDING.
UM, THE PROGRAM INITIALLY WAS FUNDED, UM, WITH ABOUT $26 MILLION, OR 20 WAS 25 AND A HALF MILLION.
UM, THAT CAME FROM HOUSING TRUST MONEY, WHICH WAS THE HOUSING TRUST FOUNDATION, THE P F C AND THE FC, UM, WHICH IS THE FINANCE CORPORATION.
I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION.
THE RISK MITIGATION FUND BALANCE OF
[00:35:01]
THREE 50.WE HAD C B G FUNDING OF $5.2 MILLION, AND THEN CARE ACT C D B G FUNDING OF 7.7 MILLION, AND THEN SEVERAL TOURIST CONTRIBUTIONS, WHICH IS ABOUT $4 MILLION.
AND THEN WE DID A GENERAL FUND PARKING TRANSFER OF TWO AND A HALF MILLION.
AND THEN MORE RECENTLY, WE ADDED THE CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUNDS OF 26.6 MILLION.
AND THEN WE HAVE OUTSIDE CONTRIBUTIONS COMING IN.
UM, THE OVERALL PROGRAM IS $51.7 MILLION.
NOW, UM, 1.3 MILLION IS GOING TOWARDS PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION, WHICH IS LESS THAN 3%.
UM, AND THEN 33.2 MILLION IS FOR RENT, MORTGAGE, AND UTILITIES.
FOR THOSE THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL FUNDING, 8.2 MILLION IS THE SAME, BUT FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL FUNDING.
AND THEN WE HAVE $9 MILLION THAT'S AVAILABLE IN DIRECT CASH ASSISTANCE, UM, THAT CAN BE USED FOR GROCERIES, FUEL, AND MEDICINE.
NOW TO, UM, MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNEW THAT WE HAD THIS PROGRAM, UM, AND DID REALLY FOCUS ON OUTREACH AND INTAKE, WE, UM, CREATED A VARIETY OF METHODS TO DO THAT INTAKE.
UM, WE HAD OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR D H S AND OUR HEALTH TEAM.
THEY PUT OVER 4,000 DOOR HANGERS IN AREAS WITH LOW EQUITY SCORES.
UM, WE DISTRIBUTED OVER 13,000 FLYERS TO INDIVIDUAL RENTAL UNITS IN 90 PROPERTIES.
AND THOSE 90 PROPERTIES ARE PROPERTIES THAT ARE, UM, HAVE LANDLORDS THAT COMMONLY USE THE EVICTION TOOL AS A WAY TO, UM, GET PEOPLE OUT OF THE UNIT.
SO WE REALLY HIGHLIGHT, FOCUSED ON THOSE 90 PROPERTIES TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF OUR PROGRAM.
UM, WE HAVE CONTRACTS WITH, UM, SEVERAL CHURCHES AND ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP US WITH INTAKE BECAUSE NOT EVERYONE FEELS COMFORTABLE EITHER USING A COMPUTER OR CALLING THE CITY.
SO WE HAVE CATHOLIC CHARITIES, UM, SACRED HEART, ST.
PATRICK'S, OUR LADY OF ANGELS, DIVINE PROVIDENCE, UM, PROVIDENCE, HOLY FAMILY, OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE SHRINE, ST.
BONNA VENTURE, ESPERANZA DOMESTICUS,
UM, WE REALLY FOCUS ON, UM, DEMOGRAPHICS THAT AREN'T USING THE PROGRAM TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN REACH OUT TO 'EM SO THEY KNOW THAT IT'S AVAILABLE.
SO WE ADD MORE OR WE, WE DO MORE OUTREACH BASED ON WHO'S NOT APPLYING FOR THE PROGRAM.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, UM, WE KNOW THAT ARTISTS ARE HURTING.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT ARTISTS WERE AWARE OF THIS PROGRAM.
SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE AND ASKING THEM TO HELP MARKET THE PROGRAM TO THE ARTIST COMMUNITY.
AND WE'VE DISTRIBUTED OVER 10,000 FLYERS AT THE FOOD BANK DISTRIBUTION CENTERS.
WE'VE DONE PSAS ON SEVERAL, UM, TV AND RADIO.
UM, ALSO WE'VE ADVERTISED IN CATHOLIC TODAY AND THE CATHOLIC NETWORK.
UM, WE ACTUALLY DID A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ARCHDIOCESE WHERE WE TRAINED, UM, SEVERAL OF THE PRIESTS AND THE STAFF ON HOW TO DO INTAKE AND TO DO A TUTORIAL FOR THEM TO SHARE WITH THEIR PARISHIONERS ON HOW TO APPLY.
UM, WE'VE ALSO PARTNERED WITH COPS METRO TO DO THE SAME.
UM, AND THEN AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE TARGETED EFFORTS TO REACH THE ARTIST COMMUNITY AND THE HOUSING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED.
WE TARGET THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION, THE TOURISM INDUSTRY, SO WE'RE WORKING ON THAT AS WELL.
UM, OUR FLYERS AND THE NOTICE FOR EVICTION HEARINGS ARE, ARE HELPING QUITE A BIT.
AS IAN MENTIONED EARLIER, WE HAD 91 CALLS AS A RESULT OF THOSE FLYERS GOING INTO THOSE NOTICE FOR HEARINGS AND THAT OUR NOTICE OF TENANTS RIGHTS IS GOING TO HELP US.
SO TO DATE, WE'VE RECEIVED 12,528 APPLICATIONS.
9,706 HAVE BEEN PROCESSED, OF WHICH 5,507 HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
338 ARE PENDING MANAGER APPROVAL OR DENIAL.
AND WE HAVE A PENDING, UM, BOX THERE BECAUSE WE WANT EVERY APPLICATION THAT'S EITHER GETTING APPROVED OR DENIED TO HAVE ONE MORE SET OF EYES FOR QUALITY OF QUALITY CONTROL.
I WANNA STRESS THOUGH THAT DENIAL NUMBER THERE.
THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS WHY YOU CAN GET DENIED.
1500 OF THOSE, UM, ARE BECAUSE THEY WERE OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS.
AND SO WE REFERRED THEM TO BEXAR COUNTY.
UM, A LITTLE BIT OVER 800 OF THOSE WERE DUPLICATES.
UM, SO MEANING THAT THE RESIDENT HAD SUBMITTED TWO APPLICATIONS, UM, WE HAD ABOUT 70 THAT WERE OVER INCOME, AND THE REMAINING 1500, UM, WERE DUE TO NON-RESPONSIVENESS.
UM, MAYBE THEY SUBMITTED THE APPLICATION, WE NEEDED MORE INFORMATION AND THEY DID NOT GET BACK TO US.
AND WE HAVE A POLICY IN PLACE WHERE WE DO NOT DENY THEM UNTIL WE HAVE DOCUMENTED TWO EMAILS AND TWO PHONE CALLS,
[00:40:01]
AND THEN WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED, UM, ANY COMMUNICATION FROM THEM WITHIN 48 HOURS AFTER THAT LAST PHONE CALL.UM, AND SO WE, WE DENIED THEM.
HOWEVER, IF SOMEBODY CALLS BACK AND SAYS, YOU KNOW, I, I RECEIVED NOTICE THAT YOU DENIED MY APPLICATION, UM, WE CAN CALL THEM BACK UP AND PUT 'EM BACK IN THE QUEUE.
SO IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEIR APPLICATION IS GONE, IT JUST MEANS WE'RE NOT ACTIVELY WORKING ON IT ANYMORE BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THEM.
UM, ANOTHER REASON THEY'RE IN THAT DENIAL PILE IS BECAUSE MAYBE THEY DIDN'T NEED RENTAL OR MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE.
MAYBE ALL THEY NEEDED WAS UTILITY ASSISTANCE.
SO IN THAT CASE, WE REFER THEM TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, UM, UTILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WHERE THEY HAVE THE UTILITY CREDIT THEY GET FROM C P S, AND WE USE THOSE SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT OUR FUNDING GOES FURTHER.
UM, NOW WE HAVE SEVERAL INPRO ABOUT 2,800 THAT ARE IN PROCESS.
OF THOSE 1,112 ARE PENDING INFORMATION.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET MORE INFORMATION FROM THE CLIENT.
THAT SIGNED LEASE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT SHOWS WHO WE NEED TO MAKE THE CHECKS PAYABLE TO.
IT SHOWS HOW MUCH THEIR RENT IS.
UM, WE ALSO NEED IDENTIFICATION, WE NEED INCOME VERIFICATION, AND WE'RE VERY FLEXIBLE ON WHAT THAT CAN BE, BUT WE NEED INFORMATION TO BE ABLE TO PROCESS THEIR APPLICATION.
AND THEN WE HAVE 1,710 THAT ARE UNDER REVIEW.
NOW, OF THOSE 1,710 THAT ARE UNDER REVIEW, THOSE SHOULD BE PROCESSED AND OUT OF THAT BOX WITHIN SEVEN DAYS.
UM, WE'VE GOTTEN THE PROCESS DOWN TO 15 DAYS, AND I'LL GO OVER THAT ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
UM, BUT I WANNA MENTION A FEW THINGS.
WE'RE WORKING ON A PUBLIC DASHBOARD, SO YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GO ONLINE ANYTIME OF THE DAY AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE WHERE ANY OF THESE, UM, APPLICATIONS ARE WITHIN THE PROCESS.
UM, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE HOW MANY WE HAVE, HOW MUCH FUNDING HAS BEEN SPENT.
AND SO IN THIS CASE, WE'VE SPENT $15.1 MILLION.
WE'VE ASSISTED OVER 5,500 FAMILIES.
NOW, IF ALL THOSE APPLICATIONS THAT ARE IN THE UNDER REVIEW AND PENDING INFO BOXES GET APPROVED, THEN WE WOULD'VE SPENT $23.8 MILLION.
WE KEEP TABS ON THAT BECAUSE WE DON'T WANNA OVERCOMMIT FUNDING.
UM, BUT WE WILL HAVE A PUBLIC DASHBOARD WHERE YOU CAN GO AND SEE HOW MUCH WE'VE SPENT, HOW MANY APPLICATIONS WE'VE PROCESSED AND WHERE THEY ARE.
WE'RE ALSO TAKING IT A STEP FURTHER.
WE'RE GONNA WORK ON IT TO WHERE AN APPLICANT CAN GO ONLINE AND THEY CAN PUNCH IN THEIR APPLICANT NUMBER AND THEY'D BE ABLE TO SEE WHERE THEIR APPLICATION IS IN THE QUEUE AS WELL.
AND SO THAT'S GONNA HELP US QUITE A BIT AT OUR CALL CENTER AND HELP US WITH, UM, NOTIFYING PEOPLE THAT THEY NEED INFORMATION.
SO MAYBE THEY DIDN'T GET THE EMAIL, MAYBE THEY DIDN'T GET THE CALL, BUT IF THEY WERE TO GO ONLINE AND LOOK TO SEE WHERE THEIR APPLICATION IS, IT WOULD SHOW THEY NEEDED INFORMATION OR NEEDED TO CALL US.
UM, NO LANDLORD HAS DENIED FUNDING FROM THE CITY.
UM, WE HAVE HAD NOW AT THE EVICTION COURT, WE HAVE HAD A COUPLE, BUT, UM, OTHER THAN THE EVICTION COURT, EVERY LANDLORD WHERE THERE IS AN APPLICANT GOING THROUGH OUR PROCESS, THEY HAVE SAID THEY'RE WILLING TO ACCEPT, UM, FUNDING FROM THE CITY.
AND IF THE LANDLORD OR THE EVICTION COURT SAYS, NO, I WANT THEM OUT, WE HELP THEM WHETHER WITH RELOCATION OR RIGHT TO COUNSEL.
UM, AND I I WANTED TO MENTION JUST THE DENIED APPLICATIONS.
IT SEEMS REALLY HIGH, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS YOU'RE DENIED.
AND THE BIGGEST ONES ARE YOU'RE OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMIT OR YOU'VE BEEN NON-RESPONSIVE, OR YOU, YOU NEED DIFFERENT ASSISTANCE OTHER THAN RENTAL OR MORTGAGE.
AND WE'RE GETTING YOU THAT HELP.
NOW, UM, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROGRAM SINCE APRIL 23RD.
UM, WE WERE INITIALLY NOTIFYING PEOPLE THAT IT WOULD TAKE UP TO 30 DAYS FROM THE DAY YOU SUBMITTED A COMPLETE APPLICATION.
SO IT'S NOT THE DAY YOU SUBMIT AN APPLICATION, BUT ONCE WE GOT A COMPLETE APPLICATION, WE HAVE GOT THAT DOWN TO 15 DAYS.
NOW, UM, AS I SHOWED YOU EARLIER, UM, WE HAVE ABOUT 1700 IN THE QUEUE THAT ARE UNDER REVIEW.
THOSE WILL BE WIPED OUT IN SEVEN DAYS.
UM, BUT IT REALLY, IF, IF YOU GET A APPLICATION AND YOU SEND IT IN, IT COULD SIGN ON DAY ONE TO A CASE MANAGER.
THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THAT APPLICATION PUT TOGETHER WITHIN SEVEN DAYS.
AND THAT INCLUDES TRYING TO GET INFORMATION FROM YOU.
UM, MAYBE YOU, WE COULDN'T READ YOUR, UM, LEASE.
WE NEEDED A MORE CLEAR, UM, VERSION.
SO SEVEN DAYS TO GET THE REVIEW AND THE APPLICATION COMPLETE.
AND THEN ANOTHER SEVEN DAYS FOR FISCAL PROCESSING.
AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO WORK ON GETTING THAT DOWN.
BUT WE THINK THIS IS REALLY KIND OF THE WORST CASE SCENARIO.
HOWEVER, WORST CASE COULD BE, NO ONE'S RESPONDING WHEN WE'RE ASKING THEM QUESTIONS ABOUT GETTING THEIR APPLICATION COMPLETE.
AND AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE A PROCESS, TWO PHONE CALLS, TWO EMAILS, AND THEN THE, THE CLOCK STARTS.
[00:45:01]
IF YOU CALL BACK AFTER IT'S BEEN DENIED, WE CAN PUT YOU BACK IN THE QUEUE.UM, SO OF THE 15 MILLION THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY SENT OUT, UM, 13.3 HAS SPENT, BEEN SPENT ON MORTGAGE AND RENT.
UM, A HUNDRED THOUSAND IS FOR SAWS, ONLY 1,623 HAS BEEN SPENT ON INTERNET.
UM, AND SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY IT'S SO LOW.
WE MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW THAT IT'S AVAILABLE.
UM, OUR PROGRAM DOES NOT PAY FOR YOU TO GET INTERNET.
IT ONLY PAYS IF, UM, YOU HAVE OUTSTANDING BILLS FOR INTERNET.
SO THAT COULD BE ONE OF THE REASONS.
SO THE AREAS THAT WE'RE HELPING, THEY MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO INTERNET TO BEGIN WITH.
UM, AND THEN OUR F I R CASH ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, THAT'S AT A LITTLE BIT OVER A MILLION DOLLARS AND THAT'S UP TO $300 PER FAMILY.
UM, AT OUR LAST MEETING, THERE ARE SEVERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT PROVIDING CASH ASSISTANCE.
UM, THE C D B G FUNDING SPECIFICALLY NEEDS TO GO TOWARDS TO THE TENANT.
WE HAVE AN EXISTING PROGRAM, UM, AND THE C D B G PROGRAM, THE FEDERAL PROGRAMMING SAYS IT HAS TO BE PAID, I'M SORRY, IT HAS TO BE PAID FOR THE LANDLORD, NOT THE TENANT.
UM, THE CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUNDING, UM, DOES NOT STATE THAT, BUT, UM, WE PREFER THAT IT BE SENT TO THE TENANT BECAUSE WE HAVE A MIX OF FUNDING AND WE ANTICIPATE GETTING MORE C D B G FUNDING.
UM, WE RECEIVED $7.7 MILLION IN C D B G CARES FUNDING.
WE KNOW THAT WAS ONLY ABOUT A THIRD OF WHAT THEY HAVE ALLOCATED FOR THE, UM, CARESS ACT AND C D G FUNDING.
WE EXPECT TO GET, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST ANOTHER $7 MILLION IN C D G FUNDING.
AND, UM, WE NEED TO HAVE THE PROCESS CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT, IT ALL GETS SPENT.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE OTHER DIRECT CASH ASSISTANCE OPPORTUNITIES.
WE HAVE FAMILY INDEPENDENCE INITIATIVE.
EVERYBODY WHO APPLIES TO THE PROGRAM AND GETS RENTAL AND MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE GETS UP TO $300.
UM, WE HAVE ADDITIONAL PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN D H S AND F I I THAT, UM, WILL, UM, ONCE WE IDENTIFY FAMILIES, THEY CAN GET UP TO $3,200 OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD.
AND THAT INCLUDES FINANCIAL COUNSELING, THE WORKFORCE TRAINING THAT WE'VE PROVIDED THROUGH THE, UM, THAT WAS REVIEWED BY THE ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WORKFORCE COUNCIL, AS WELL AS APPROVED IN THE SMALL BUSINESS PILLAR.
AND, UM, THE WORKFORCE TRAINING PILLAR ALLOWS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE GOING THROUGH A PROGRAM, EITHER ON THE JOB TRAINING OR WORKFORCE TRAINING TO GET $400 A WEEK IN, IN CASH FOR LIVING EXPENSES.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE OUR VIDA PROGRAM.
SO SEVERAL PEOPLE, UM, HAD NOT FILED THEIR TAXES AT THE TIME OF THE STIMULUS SPENDING, UM, BEING AVAILABLE.
SO WE ARE ABLE TO HELP THEM FILE AND RETRIEVE THAT STIMULUS FUNDING.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE OUR FINANCIAL AND HOUSING RECOVERY CENTER, AND WE HAVE FLEX FUNDS FOR EMERGENCY NEEDS.
SO WE HAVE GIFT CARDS WE CAN PROVIDE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE MEDICAL, UM, ISSUES OR OTHER COSTS THAT WE NEED SUPPORT.
SO THERE IS WAYS TO GET CASH TO THE RESIDENTS.
UM, AND WE HAVE SEVERAL WAYS THAT I'VE IDENTIFIED THEM ON THE SLIDE.
UM, I TRULY BELIEVE, ESPECIALLY AFTER GOING THROUGH THE COVID, UM, CRISIS, WE DEFINITELY NEED A, A RENTER'S COMMISSION.
UM, WE HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WORKING WITH SEVERAL STAKEHOLDER GROUPS TO HELP US GET THE FEEDBACK FROM RENTERS, WHETHER IT'S A RISK MITIGATION FUND GROUP, THE RIGHT TO COUNCIL GROUP.
UM, BUT IF WE HAD HAD A RENTER'S COMMISSION IN PLACE, IT WOULD'VE BEEN A GREAT, UM, AVENUE FOR US TO GO AND SEEK INPUT.
AND, UM, SO, UM, WE DEFINITELY FEEL THAT WE NEED ONE.
UM, YOU KNOW, COUNCILMAN TREVINO SUBMITTED THE C C R IN JUNE OF 2019.
THAT WENT TO GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE IN JANUARY.
UM, CULTURAL NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES COMMITTEE REVIEWED IT IN FEBRUARY.
AND THEN, UM, COUNCILMAN TREVINO HAD A RENTER'S TOWN HALL IN FEBRUARY OF 2020.
AND THEN WE HAD THE COVID PANDEMIC HIT AND THINGS KIND OF SLOWED DOWN.
GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, BUT WE WANT, WE WANNA KICK THEM BACK UP.
UM, SO, UM, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S ANOTHER VIRTUAL TOWN HALL BEING PLANNED IN JULY.
WE WANNA DO FOCUS GROUPS, FOCUS GROUPS WITH EACH OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THIS COMMITTEE, UM, TALK TO RENTERS, TALK TO LANDLORDS, TALK TO HOUSING PROVIDERS, TALK TO COMMUNITY GROUPS AND TECHNICAL PROFESSIONALS.
SO WE CAN COME BACK TO THIS COMMITTEE WITH OUR RECOMMENDATION AND CITY COUNCIL IN SEPTEMBER FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT
[00:50:01]
OF A RENTER'S COMMISSION.AND THAT CONCLUDES THIS PRESENTATION.
I KNOW WE COVERED A LOT, UM, SO, AND I HOPEFULLY WE ANSWERED SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING, AND I'LL HAND IT BACK OVER TO THE CHAIRMAN, UM, TO FACILITATE ANY MORE QUESTIONS.
AND, UM, I'M SURE THERE'S PLENTY QUESTIONS.
DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS REGARDING THIS ITEM? OKAY.
SO, UM, IN, IN THE SPIRIT OF, UH, FAIRNESS TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PERRY, WHO, UH, DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK AT THE LAST COMMITTEE MEETING, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA START WITH DISTRICT 10 AND HIS COMMENTS, UH, ON THIS ITEM.
UM, ACTUALLY, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS.
UM, MELODY DOING A GOOD JOB ON PUTTING ALL THIS TOGETHER.
DOESN'T MEAN I AGREE TOTALLY WITH THIS, THIS WHOLE PROGRAM, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE, UM, COUNCIL DIRECTION AND, UH, THE POLICY AND, AND I THINK YOU REALLY PUT TOGETHER A, A GOOD JOB.
I JUST, UH, YOU KNOW, IS THERE, I'M, I'M ASSUMING AT SOME POINT IN TIME THAT THIS PROGRAM WILL BE AUDITED AND, UM, AND WE WILL, UM, HAVE, HAVE YOU TALKED TO KEVIN BARTELL ABOUT THAT AT ALL, LORI, ABOUT, UH, AUDITING THIS PROGRAM AT SOME POINT? Y YES, ACTUALLY, COUNCILMAN TREVINO REQUESTED AN AUDIT, AND SO WE ARE GOING TO BE GOING THROUGH THAT AUDIT IN JULY.
AND, UM, SO WE ARE READY AND, UM, THAT THAT IS UNDERWAY.
UM, COUNCILMAN COURAGE, YOU ON? CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? WE HEAR YOU NOW.
UM, ONE OF MY CONCERNS IS ABOUT HOMELESSNESS AND I'D I'D LIKE A LITTLE MORE OF AN EXPLANATION.
ARE WE FOCUSING ON PRIMARILY FAMILIES AND THAT WOULD BE FAMILIES THAT BECOME HOMELESS OR HAVE BEEN HOMELESS, UH, YOU KNOW, RECENTLY? UH, OR ARE WE, ARE WE SAYING ANYBODY WHO'S HOMELESS? AND THE REASON WHY I ASK THAT IS BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF HOMELESS PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE BEEN REACHING OUT TO FOR YEARS, AND WE SIMPLY CANNOT GET THEM TO RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF COMING FOR HELP.
UH, BUT THEN AGAIN, THERE MAY BE A LOT OF RECENT FAMILIES, OR FAMILIES IN GENERAL THAT, THAT DO WANT HELP.
SO I'M WONDERING, YOU KNOW, ARE WE DIFFERENTIATING, UH, DO WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO HELP MANY OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS OR ARE WE FOCUSING PRIMARILY ON FAMILIES? AND SO COUNCILMAN, UH, REALLY IT'S BOTH STRATEGIES AND, AND TRYING TO FIND THAT RIGHT BALANCE.
AND SO AS FAMILIES BECOME NEWLY HOMELESS AND ARE NOT ABLE TO SELF RESOLVE THEIR, THEIR HOMELESSNESS, THERE WILL BE FUNDS AVAILABLE TO HELP HELP THEM AS WELL.
AND ALSO TO PREVENT FAMILIES WHO ARE REALLY, REALLY LOW INCOME AND BELOW AND, AND VERY MARGINALIZED AND HAVE BEEN FOR A LONG TIME WITH HOMELESS PREVENTION.
THAT INCLUDES SOME INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
SO THAT HOMELESS PREVENTION PIECE REALLY WILL ADDRESS THOSE FAMILIES THAT ARE BECOMING NEWLY HOMELESS.
AND THEN WE HAVE ANO, UH, QUITE A BIT OF RAPID REHOUSING DOLLARS THAT WILL HELP US HOUSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN HOMELESS A LONG TIME, ESPECIALLY THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN AT SHELTERS.
AND SO WE REALLY HAVEN'T HAD AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF RESOURCES TO, TO HELP PAY FOR PERMANENT HOUSING.
UM, WE HAVE MORE OF THAT NOW, AND SO WE WANNA HELP THOSE PEOPLE WHO EXACTLY THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVE NOT BEEN WILLING TO ACCEPT SERVICES, BUT MIGHT BE WILLING TO, TO GO INTO HOUSING.
WE CAN HELP, UM, YOU KNOW, ANYWHERE FROM THREE TO 24 MONTHS, UM, OF RENTAL AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE TO, TO TRY TO STABILIZE, UM, THE MOST CHRONIC HOMELESS THAT HELPS US FREE UP SPACE IN OUR EMERGENCY SHELTERS TO, UM, HELP WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING.
AND IT ALSO HELPS US CREATE MORE SPACE FOR, FOR INDIVIDUALS AS THEY BECOME HOMELESS.
BUT FAMILIES, GETTING FAMILIES INTO HOUSING IS DEFINITELY AN IMPORTANT STRATEGY.
UM, WE KNOW THAT ALL OF OUR FAMILY SHELTERS ARE FULL, AND SO WE DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF, UM, OPTIONS FOR WHERE THEY GO.
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE, UH, TAKEN OVER THE OPERATION OF A HOTEL FOR A
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PERIOD OF TIME.UH, AND THAT MAY BE A, A GOOD LOCATION TO PUT FAMILIES WHO ARE LOOKING IN, IN THE, IN THE INTERIM TO FIND MORE PERMANENT HOUSING AND POSSIBLY, POSSIBLY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WILLING TO COME IN AND, AND GET THOSE SERVICES.
ARE DO WE, AS THEY DO AT HAVEN FOR HOPE, LOOK AT THE, UH, CHARACTER OF THE PERSON IF THEY ARE A DRUG USER OR ALCOHOLIC, AND, UH, DOES THAT LIMIT THEIR ABILITY TO GO INTO THAT FACILITY? AND SO WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT.
UM, SO ON ONE HAND, IF THEY NEED THAT KIND OF TREATMENT, THEY WON'T GET IT AT THAT HOTEL.
AND SO WE WOULD, WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THEY'RE, THEY GO TO TREATMENT FIRST TO STABILIZE, AND THEN POTENTIALLY IF THEY'RE READY FOR, FOR HOUSING, UM, THEY COULD GO TO THE HOTEL, THEY COULD GO TO PERMANENT HOUSING, BUT FIRST WE'RE GONNA RECOMMEND THAT THEY GO INTO TREATMENT AND STABILIZE.
UM, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IF THAT'S, IF THAT CONTINUES TO BE A, A PROBLEM OR A CONCERN, UM, THEN PROBABLY THE HOTEL MAY NOT BE THE BEST SOLUTION.
SO ANY, YOU KNOW, THE HOTEL WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE FAMILIES, UM, THAT ARE IN THERE.
IT WON'T ALL BE INDIVIDUALS, AND SO WE WILL HAVE TO BE CAUTIOUS OF WHO IS THERE, UM, WITH CHILDREN IN THE BUILDING.
AND SO THAT'LL BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT, BUT, BUT FIRST WE'RE GONNA TRY TO, TO GET ACCESS TO TREATMENT.
I'M, I'M, YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD OF THE EXPLANATION YOU'VE JUST PROVIDED ON THAT.
UM, ANOTHER, UH, ISSUE I THINK IS, UM, QUALIFICATIONS.
I SAW THAT WE SAID ONLY 8 MILLION WAS AVAILABLE TO HELP PEOPLE, UH, WHO MAY HAVE HOUSING ISSUES THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, DON'T MEET FEDERAL QUALIFICATIONS.
I THOUGHT THERE'D BE MORE MONEY AVAILABLE TO HELP PEOPLE IN THAT SITUATION.
ARE YOU REFERRING TO THE, ARE YOU REFERRING TO THE EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM? YEAH.
UM, SO, UM, IT'S BASED ON WHAT'S NOT FEDERALLY FUNDED AND, AND, BUT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HELP, MOST, MOST EVERYONE WHO COMES IN, MOST OF THEM ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL FUNDS.
AND SO WE FEEL THAT THAT MONEY IS ADEQUATE.
UM, BUT WE HA WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY ISSUES WITH THAT.
BUT BECAUSE OF THE CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUNDING AND THE C D B G FUNDING, THAT ALL IS FEDERAL FUND.
AND SO WHATEVER WAS LEFT, UM, WAS PUT TOWARDS THE F I I, THE CASH ASSISTANCE AND THOSE THAT DON'T QUALIFY.
HOWEVER, UM, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH THE FAMILIES TO SEE HOW THEY WOULD QUALIFY FOR FEDERAL FUNDING, AND MOST OF THE FAMILIES DO HAVE A CHILD THAT'S ALREADY RECEIVING FEDERAL BENEFITS, AND WE'RE ABLE TO USE THAT SAME INFORMATION.
UH, I DID WANNA SAY AT, UH, A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE SAYING THEY WANTED MORE CASH PAYOUTS MM-HMM.
BUT I, I BELIEVE THE ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE THAT PROVIDE DIRECT CASH SHOULD BE ADEQUATE.
I THINK THAT IF WE SPEND MORE TIME MAKING SURE THAT ANYONE WHO IS ELIGIBLE HAS GOTTEN, UH, THEIR RELIEF FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, UH, AND, AND HELPING IN THAT AREA FOR THOSE THAT HAVEN'T, UH, SHOULD, SHOULD GO A LONG WAY.
AND I KNOW THE EMERGENCY RELIEF AND THE F I I PAYMENTS, THEY SHOULD ACCOMPLISH THAT.
BUT I, I JUST HAVE A REAL DIFFICULT TIME GIVING OUT JUST ALL CASH, UH, TO SO MANY PEOPLE.
UM, AND I, I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE ARE REALLY TRACKING AND WE WILL BE AUDITING ALL OF THAT.
UM, AND IT'S NOT THAT I KNOW PEOPLE DON'T NEED THE HELP, BUT I THINK WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO BE ABLE TO REALLY MONITOR THAT AND MAKE SURE, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, IF IT'S FOR HOUSING, THAT IT GETS TO HOUSING AND WE KNOW PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO REMAIN IN THOSE HOMES.
AND I USUALLY THAT MEANS WORKING MORE WITH THE LANDLORD THAN DIRECTLY GIVING CASH TO A TENANT.
SO I APPRECIATE THE, UH, THE OVERSIGHT THAT WE'RE PUTTING ON THAT.
THE LAST THING I WANNA MENTION WAS THE LAST ITEM THAT WE, WE ADDRESSED HERE, AND THAT IS THE COMMISSION.
AND, AND I BELIEVE WE SHOULD HAVE SOME MORE REPRESENTATION, UH, FOR RENTERS, UH, IN ANY PROCESS GOING FORWARD.
HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THAT ANY RENTER'S COMMISSION NEEDS TO BE BALANCED WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND, UH, I WOULD NOT SUPPORT ANY RENTER'S COMMISSION THAT SIMPLY HAD RENTERS.
I REALLY, REALLY BELIEVE IF WE'RE GOING TO ARRIVE AT SOLUTIONS THAT, UH, EVERYBODY CAN WORK WITH, THEN WE NEED TO HAVE A REPRESENTATION AT THE TABLE FROM ALL SIDES.
SO I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE THAT I REALIZE THAT'S AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT, UH, OF, OF HOUSING.
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SOMETHING THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THE COUNCILMAN'S PUSH VERY, VERY MUCH, BUT I'M GONNA BE PRETTY FIRM ABOUT THAT.UH, YOU KNOW, IF WE DON'T HAVE EVERYBODY AT THE TABLE, UH, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ARRIVE AT ANY KIND OF REASONABLE CONCLUSIONS OR PATH FORWARD.
BUT OTHERWISE, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE REPORT.
I THINK WE'RE DOING WELL ON ALL OF THESE AREAS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M SURE WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO BENEFIT A LOT OF THE PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO WHO NEED THE HELP.
UM, COUNCILWOMAN GERRAN, DISTRICT THREE.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, I JUST QUICKLY, I WANNA SAY I, I LOVE WHAT, UH, IS HAPPENING WITH THE CASE MANAGEMENT AND HOW WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT STRATEGY MO MOVING FORWARD.
UM, OF COURSE, I DO THINK, UH, THE STRATEGY IS DOING WELL WITH, UM, THE HOMELESSNESS, UH, AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO WORK AND THE CAPACITY THAT WE'RE GOING THAT WAY.
UM, MELODY, I DEF I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION AND WE KNOW THAT ALL OF THIS IS INTERCONNECTED, UH, BECAUSE OF THE, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO PIVOT ON, MELODY, PLEASE LET US KNOW.
UM, BECAUSE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN DO, DO JUST THAT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS NOT HERE, BUT WHO WE WORK WITH, ALL OF US WORK WITH IS THE FOOD BANK.
SO I WANT TO KNOW HOW ARE WE PARTNERING WITH THE FOOD BANK IN THESE OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUTREACH, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO OUR HOMELESSNESS SERVICES FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR CASH ASSISTANCE.
HOW IS THE FOOD BANK PART OF OUR, OUR LEVERAGING, GETTING THE WORD OUT? UM, COUNCILWOMAN, I COULD SPEAK TO THE HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
UM, WE HAVE PRINTED 10,000 FLYERS, AND THEY HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED AT THE FOOD BANK AS PEOPLE COME UP IN THEIR CARS, AND WE'LL BE PROVIDING THEM MORE FLYERS.
UM, AND MEL, YOU CAN ADD ON TO WHAT YOUR TEAM IS DOING AS WELL.
BUT WE FOUND 'EM AS A GREAT PARTNER.
THEY, THEY'VE BEEN REALLY IN, IN A NUMBER OF ASPECTS FOR US.
AND, YOU KNOW, FROM THE BEGINNING, HELPING US DISTRIBUTE FOOD COMMODITIES TO SENIORS, TO OUR HEAD START FAMILIES, TO, UM, REALLY ANY GROUP THAT, THAT WE COULD THINK OF AND SET UP A DISTRIBUTION, UM, FOR, AND REALLY THAT'S, THAT WAS PART OF KEEPING PEOPLE HOUSED BECAUSE THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO SPEND MONEY ON FOOD.
THEY COULD PUT IT TOWARDS THEIR RENT OR UTILITIES.
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH THE HOMELESS, THEY OF COURSE, WERE PROVIDING THE MEALS IN HAVEN FOR HOPE.
THEY HAVE CONTINUED ALONG WITH ST.
VINCENT TO PAUL TO GET MEALS TO THE HOTEL, TO THE HOMELESS PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE.
AND, UH, WE ANTICIPATE THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE.
UM, WE'LL WORK WITH THEM TO CONTINUE PROVIDING THOSE MEALS.
THEY HAVE HELPED US DISTRIBUTE, UM, FLYERS AS WELL REGARDING OUR HOMELESS HUBS.
THEY'VE DONE DISTRIBUTIONS WITH A NUMBER OF OUR PARTNERS CATHOLIC CHARITIES AND, UM, ALL OVER THE CITY, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT DIFFERENT POPULATIONS, UM, WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO FOOD, HAVE FOOD.
UM, I DON'T KNOW WHO CAN TALK ON THIS POINT, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, YOU TALKED ABOUT ONLINE TRAINING.
UH, SO TELL ME HOW ARE ARE PEOPLE WHO NEED THE ONLINE TRAINING AND DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO INTERNET? HOW ARE THEY GETTING THIS, HOW ARE THEY GETTING ONLINE FOR THIS ONLINE TRAINING? RIGHT.
WELL, I KNOW I CAN SPEAK TO, AND THEN I'LL HAVE JENNY HICKSON WEIGH IN ALSO, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH THE, THE TEACHERS AND THE PROFESSIONALS, THEY HAVE ACCESS THROUGH THEIR, THEIR JOBS AND THEIR SCHOOLS.
AND THEN JENNY, IF YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT, UM, THE OTHER TRAINING FOR PARENTS, I THINK YOU WOULD PROBABLY HAVE A BETTER, MORE THOROUGH RESPONSE.
SO WE HAVE, UM, I GUESS THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ONLINE TRAINING THAT'LL BE GOING ON UNDER THIS PARTICULAR PILLAR.
UM, THE FIRST IS THAT OUR TRIPLE P PROVIDERS ARE SHIFTING SOME OF THE WORKSHOPS THAT THEY WE'RE GONNA BE DOING IN PERSON TO BEING ONLINE.
SO PART OF THIS FUNDING, WE'VE SET ASIDE SOME, UM, DOLLARS TO PROVIDE ESSENTIALLY, UM, LIKE TO GO PACKS FOR OUR COMMUNITY AGENCIES THAT HAVE BEEN TRAINED IN TRIPLE P.
SO A HOTSPOT, UM, A WEBCAM, SOME OF THE DIFFERENT THINGS, BECAUSE WE KNOW SOME OF OUR SMALLER AGENCIES THAT WE ARE PARTNERING WITH ON TRIPLE P, THEY DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF, UM, EQUIPMENT FOR THEIR WORKERS THAT ARE MAYBE WORKING FROM HOME.
SO WE HAVE SOME OF THOSE, UM, SOME OF THOSE TRAININGS ARE GONNA BE PROVIDED, UH, THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY AGENCIES THAT ALREADY HAVE EXISTING RELATIONSHIPS WITH
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THEIR CLIENTS AND HAVE ALREADY BEEN DOING SOME OF THESE WORKSHOPS.WE JUST WANNA KIND OF HELP THEM, UH, HAVE A GREATER REACH.
THE SECOND THING IS THE OUTREACH THAT WE'RE DOING WITH PARENTS AROUND THE ONLINE TRIPLE P CURRICULA.
UM, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN DO ON THE WEB, BUT IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE ON THEIR PHONE.
AND WE'VE INCLUDED IN THIS, UM, INCENTIVES FOR THAT.
SO IT, ONCE THEY COMPLETE HALF THE CLASSES, THEY GET A $25 GIFT OR GIFT CARD, AND THEN WHEN THEY COMPLETE THE WHOLE THING, THEY GET ANOTHER.
UM, AND THEN WE'VE ALSO INCLUDED TRAINING THAT'S GONNA BE FOR TEACHERS AROUND THE TWO GOOD FOR VIOLENCE PROGRAM, WHICH IS THE PROGRAM THAT'S BEEN IN SIXTH GRADE CLASSROOMS IN S A I S D.
AND SO, AGAIN, THAT TRAINING IS GONNA BE VIRTUAL OVER THE SUMMER BECAUSE OF COVID.
AND THEN MOVING INTO THE FALL, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO SORT OF HAVE AN ONGOING CONVERSATION ABOUT THE BEST WAY TO PROVIDE THAT TRAINING TO STUDENTS AND PARENTS AS WE'RE MOVING INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR.
I THINK, UM, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING TO THE INDIVIDUALS, UH, THE WOMEN, THE FAMILY MEMBERS, THE CHILDREN WHO NEED, UM, HELP IMMEDIATELY, UM, TOO, AND I, I'M, I APPRECIATE ALL OF OUR PARTNERS THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH US SIDE BY SIDE WHEN IT COMES TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HELPING PEOPLE GET OUT OF THAT SITUATION, UM, TOO.
UM, LASTLY, I THINK I WANNA, OH, WHEN IT COMES TO ELDER ABUSE, SO, UM, IS THIS PART OF THAT CONVERSATION TOO, THE, THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FUNDING? NOT NECESSARILY, BUT WE ARE DOING, UM, THAT THROUGH OUR SENIOR SERVICES PROGRAMMING, WE'RE TALKING TO SENIORS AS WE, UM, ARE DISTRIBUTING FOOD AND HANDING OUT INFORMATION.
BUT ON THE DAYS THAT WE'RE NOT DOING FOOD DISTRIBUTION, UH, SENIOR SERVICES STAFF IS CONTACTING SENIORS, UM, JUST CONTINUOUSLY TRYING TO TOUCH, HAVE A TOUCH POINT WITH THEM, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THIS EVENT SO THAT WE KNOW IF THEY'RE CONNECTED OR ANYTHING'S HAPPENING, AND HAVE IDENTIFIED A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WHO, UM, YOU KNOW, HAVE EXPERIENCED SOME VIOLENCE IN THEIR HOMES AND HAVE REFERRED THEM FOR SERVICES.
AND SO IT REALLY, IT'S JUST STAYING IN TOUCH WITH PEOPLE, AND THAT'LL CONTINUE TO BE PART OF OUR STRATEGY UNTIL THE SENIOR CENTERS REOPEN.
YEAH, AND I KNOW THAT, I THINK IT WAS ON THURSDAY WHEN WE HAD AN UPDATE REGARDING OUR COVID EMERGENCY.
UH, THEY DISCUSSED SOMETHING ABOUT AN OUTREACH WITH THE A A R P.
I DON'T EVEN, I THINK IT WAS THURSDAY.
I CAN'T REMEMBER WHEN THAT WAS MENTIONED.
UM, AN, AN OUTREACH WITH A A R P, I THINK, UM, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO CONNECT, OF COURSE.
AND THEN WITH, UM, OATS OR SENIOR PLANET TO GET CONNECTED WITH THEM AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY CAN CHECK IN ON ONE ANOTHER.
AND THEN, UH, FINALLY, YOU KNOW, UH, I DO THANK YOU, LORI, FOR GETTING ALL THOSE NUMBERS AND, AND IAN AND EVERYBODY, UH, PRESENTED HERE.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP A PULSE ON THIS.
MY CONCERN IS THAT AS, AND I'VE ALREADY CALLED, UM, I'VE HAD MY STAFF LOOK, UH, TO I G R TO GET AN UPDATE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, WHEN THE EVICTIONS WILL STOP AT THE END OF JULY FOR THOSE FEDERAL DOLLAR, UM, APARTMENT COMPLEXES.
WE NEED TO SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING.
MY CONCERN IS WE'RE GONNA NEED A LOT MORE MONEY IN, UM, OUR, UH, EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE FUND THAN THAT IS THERE.
AND I DID HAPPEN TO CATCH LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER, WHERE HE DID MENTION SAN ANTONIO AND, UH, THE VIRTUAL, UH, HEARING AND TALKING ABOUT EVICTION.
SO I THINK WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN.
I THINK WE'RE DOING SOME OF THE BEST WORK IN THE STATE OF TEXAS TOO.
BUT I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE FEDERAL PROTECTIONS ARE GOING TO BE TO BE REMOVED OR LIFTED.
UM, SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE WORK.
AND I WANNA CONTINUE TO, TO SEE WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
IF WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AND FIND MORE MONEY SOMEWHERE, OR MOVE DOLLARS FOR OUR COVID, UM, OUR COVID MONEY AND HAVE THAT SERIOUS CONVERSATION, LORI AND TEAM THROUGH THE MONTH OF JULY, WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR BUDGET, UM, COMING UP IN SEPTEMBER, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO, UH, WITH THAT? AND THEN, UM, ALSO, SO YES, UH, KEEPING I G R IN THE LOOP AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY PASS ON ALL OF OUR INFORMATION THAT WE'RE DOING.
LET THE, OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AND THE HELP THAT WE STILL NEED FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
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AND THEN, UM, THANK YOU TO ALL OF THOSE WHO WROTE IN THE PUBLIC COMMENTS.AND, UM, I WISH WE COULD DO A LOT MORE, AND THANK YOU FOR REPEATING THOSE CLARIFICATIONS ON THE REASONS WHY SOME OF THOSE, UM, APPLICATIONS WERE DENIED TO.
SO, LORI, OF THOSE APPLICATIONS THAT WERE DENIED AND MOVED OVER TO THE COUNTY, DO YOU KNOW IF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WERE ABLE TO GET MONEY? DO WE HAVE ANY FOLLOW UP FROM THAT? UM, I, I DON'T KNOW.
UM, BUT THERE IS A REALLY GOOD STREAMLINED PROCESS WHERE EDWARD, UM, WORKS DIRECTLY WITH THE COUNTY STAFF OVER THERE AND GIVES THEM THE LIST OF THOSE THAT WE ARE DENIED SINCE WE ALREADY HAVE THAT DATA COLLECTED.
UM, AND THEN WE DO A HANDOFF TO THEM.
BUT WE CAN GET YOU SOME INFORMATION ON, UM, HOW MANY HAVE ACTUALLY RECEIVED FUNDING.
THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY HAS BEEN BETTER THAN IT'S EVER BEEN BEFORE.
I MEAN, THAT THE EVICTION COURT BEEN GREAT.
UM, WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THE ASSISTANCE, EVEN IF SOMEONE'S NOT ELIGIBLE FOR COUNTY AND IT'S ALL CITY, THE COUNTY'S HELPING US DO THAT INTAKE.
AND SO IT'S BEEN A REALLY, REALLY GREAT PARTNERSHIP.
WELL THANK, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCILOR MEMBER, UH, UMTO ANDREWS.
UM, LORI, I JUST WANNA START BY SAYING THANK YOU.
I KNOW WE'VE HAD TWO RESIDENTS THAT YOU HAVE HELPED WITHIN OUR DISTRICT, AND THEY ARE SO HAPPY, UM, THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO ASSIST THEM AND GET THEM THE, UM, RENTAL ASSISTANCE, THE UTILITY ASSISTANCE, AND THE FOOD ASSISTANCE THAT THEY WERE NEEDING.
SO JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH, UM, FIRST AND FOREMOST FOR THAT, AND MELODY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CONTINUING THE WORK THAT YOU DO FOR THE, THE HOMELESS, SHELTERED AND UNSHELTERED.
WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT WORK.
UM, IAN KNOWS THAT HE WAS ON MOST OF THOSE C OVID 19 WORKING GROUP CALLS WITH US, AND THE IDEAS JUST KEPT FLOWING AS WE GO THROUGH THIS.
AND SO, UM, LOOKING AT THE FRAMEWORK AND THE, UM, PLAYBOOK ACTUALLY COMING TO FRUITION IS, IS REALLY, UM, A SIGHT TO SEE.
UM, THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE, UM, IN RELATION TO, UH, THE DASHBOARD, LORI, THAT YOU WERE SPEAKING OF, AND AS IT RELATES TO PUTTING IN THE APPLICATIONS AND GIVING THE APPLICANTS A PROCESS THAT THEY CAN FOLLOW FOR THEMSELVES, WE KNOW EDUCATION IS KEY, AND SO A LOT OF THE RESIDENTS ARE ASKING TO BE A PART OF THIS PROCESS.
AND I THINK THAT, THAT, THAT DASHBOARD WOULD TRULY BE A GREAT RESOURCE.
BUT ONE QUESTION THAT I WANTED TO KNOW IS, WITHIN THAT RESOURCE, BEING ABLE TO MAYBE HAVE A TEXTING, UH, COMPONENT TO WHERE THE APPLICANT RECEIVES A NOTIFICATION THAT THEIR APPLICATION WAS RECEIVED, UM, AND THEN A FOLLOW-UP TEXT THAT MAYBE SENDS A DIRECT MESSAGE TO THAT, THAT CELL PHONE TO SAY, THIS IS THE INFORMATION WE NEED IN ADDITION TO, OR YOUR, YOUR APPLICATION IS FULLY PROCESSED, THIS IS THE AMOUNT THAT WILL BE GOING AND THE DAY IT WILL BE GOING.
THAT IS ANOTHER COMPONENT I THINK THAT WILL BE VERY BENEFICIAL.
'CAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T EITHER LOOK AT THEIR EMAIL OR CHECK THEIR MESSAGES, BUT THEY'RE ALWAYS CHECKING THEIR TEXT MESSAGES.
AND SO, UM, I THINK THAT'S A COMPONENT THAT MIGHT BE VERY BENEFICIAL FOR AN APPLICANT, BECAUSE IF THEY'RE AWAY FROM A COMPUTER OR AWAY FROM A DEVICE, THEY CAN STILL CHECK IN ON THEIR PHONE AND KNOW WHERE THEY'RE STANDING.
UM, I JUST LIKE TO SEE THAT IF THAT'S A PROCESS THAT MIGHT BE ADDED TO THAT.
UM, WHEN IT COMES TO THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE, DO WE KNOW HOW MANY CALLS WE HAVE RECEIVED DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC SO FAR? I, I KNOW ON THE HOMELESS HOTLINE, I, I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER.
THROUGH THE HOMELESS HOTLINE, WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, UM, OR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CALLS LOOKING FOR HOUSING.
UM, I DON'T KNOW THAT FOR THE, UM, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE, THIS, I DON'T THINK THE CITY OPERATES THAT.
DO WE, JENNY? DO WE HAVE ONE? NO, WE DON'T HAVE ONE.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S ACTUALLY A SEPARATE INITIATIVE THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW WITH THE COLLABORATIVE COMMISSION THAT WE'RE TRYING TO STAND UP A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE.
UM, RIGHT NOW, THE MAIN ENTRY POINTS FOR PEOPLE ARE AT THE CRISIS LINE THAT'S OPERATED BY FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION SERVICES, BUT THAT'S REALLY PRIMARILY FOR FOLKS THAT ARE SEEKING HOUSING.
UM, THE SECOND ENTRY POINT IS, UM, WE HAVE BEEN REFERRING PEOPLE TO 2 1 1, BUT AS Y ALLALL KNOW, THE WAY ON THAT IS QUITE SIGNIFICANT.
UM, AND THEN THE THIRD MAIN ENTRY POINT IS THAT WE TELL PEOPLE TO CALL THE S A P D NON-EMERGENCY LINE TO GET CONNECTED TO THE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM.
BUT WE ARE IN U H S THAT'S FUNDED A
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DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE THAT IS GONNA BE RUN OUT OF TRACK.SO WE'RE JUST IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO GET THAT ALL, UM, SOME SQUARED AWAY AND STOOD UP.
UM, SO MELODY, IF I COULD FIND OUT WHAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE THROUGH THE HOMELESS HOTLINE, THAT'D BE GREAT.
UM, AND THEN, UM, OUT OF THOSE, HOW MANY HAVE WE ASSISTED WITH RELOCATION ARE PROVIDING THEM WITH HOUSING AS WELL? WELL, SO THE, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN A STRUGGLE BECAUSE OUR SHELTER, UH, PLACE HAS, SHELTERS HAVE BEEN CLOSED FOR INTAKE.
AND SO WE'VE REALLY WORKED WITH PEOPLE TO, ON A NUMBER OF WAYS TO RESOLVE WHETHER IT'S MOVING IN WITH FAMILY OR FRIENDS, UM, OR HOTEL VOUCHERS.
UM, AND I'LL GET YOU THAT BREAKDOWN OF HOW MANY WERE MOVED INTO PERMANENT HOUSING, HOW MANY WENT TO SHELTERS, AND HOW MANY WERE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE, UM, PLACEMENT WITH FAMILY MEMBERS.
UM, THE NEXT, THE NEXT QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS IN RELATIONS TO, UM, THE CONTINUED FILINGS FOR EVICTION COURT, ARE WE ABLE TO GET THOSE, UM, FILINGS IN ADVANCE SO THAT WE CAN START PROACTIVELY REACHING OUT TO THE NEW FILINGS THAT WE ARE GONNA BE SEEING? YES.
UM, WE, WE GOT ALL THE FILINGS, SORRY, COUNCILWOMAN, IAN BENAVIDEZ.
WE, WE'VE RECEIVED ALL THE FILINGS WHEN THE COURTS OPENED UP, AND WE DID A PROACTIVE MAILER TO THOSE, UH, TO THOSE PLAINTIFFS AND DEFENDANTS.
UH, AND THEN WE GET UPDATED FILINGS EVERY WEEK IN COORDINATION WITH THE COUNTY.
UH, AND WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER PROACTIVE MEASURE THAT WE'RE TAKING.
AND THEN AGAIN, WHEN THEY GET, UH, NOTIFIED FOR THEIR ACTUAL HEARINGS, THEY GET A SECOND NOTIFICATION.
SO DURING THIS BREAK, UM, AS SOME OF THE COURTS STOP MEETING, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO GET THOSE FILINGS AND BE PROACTIVE WITH OUR MAILOUTS.
I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE DOING A LOT OF OF RESEARCH ON THAT.
UM, MY LAST AND FINAL QUESTION THAT I HAVE AT THIS TIME IS AS FAR AS WHEN IT COMES TO, UM, ADDITIONAL VOUCHERS OR HOUSING VOUCHERS THROUGH SAHA AND, UH, THE VASH PROGRAM, DO WE KNOW IF ANY, UM, ADDITIONAL VOUCHERS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED THROUGH SAHA OR THROUGH VASH, UH, WHICH IS VOCATIONAL, UM, HOUSING ASSISTANCE TO VETERANS
UM, SAHA DID RECEIVE ADDITIONAL FUNDS, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY, HOW HOW MANY VOUCHERS, UM, WERE CREATED FROM THAT.
THEY DID PROVIDE A HUNDRED VOUCHERS TO THE SOUTH ALAMO REGIONAL ALLIANCE FOR THE HOMELESS.
AND ALMOST ALL OF THOSE HAVE BEEN FILLED.
THEY'VE BEEN WORKING WITH HOMELESS PROVIDERS TO IDENTIFY, UM, APPROPRIATE INDIVIDUALS OR FAMILIES FOR THOSE VOUCHERS, BUT THEY WERE USED QUICKLY, COUNSEL, AND WE CAN GET YOU AN UPDATE BILL AND WORK WITH DAVID ACHE.
UH, I THINK WE LOST YOU, LORI.
WE WILL, WE WILL WORK WITH DAVID ACHE WITH SAHA AND GET AN UPDATE TO YOU DIRECTLY ON WHAT FEDERAL FUNDING THEY HAVE RECEIVED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR ANSWERS.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE HARD WORK THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, I, I HAVE TO AGREE, UH, WHAT, UH, JOHN OLIVER SHOW WAS BROUGHT UP AND HIS WORDS, THE UTTER ABSURDITY THAT'S HAPPENING WITH REGARDS TO EVICTIONS IS, IS, IS, IS ABOUT RIGHT.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS REALLY, UM, AN UNBELIEVABLE TIME FOR ALL OF US.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE EXPERIENCING SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO BE VERY, UM, THOUGHTFUL ABOUT.
SO ACTUALLY, UH, FIRST I REALLY JUST WANT TO GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO ALL THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, UH, WORKING.
UH, THEY, THEY HAVE BEEN SO COLLABORATIVE, SO COOPERATIVE.
UH, SO I JUST WANNA SAY, UH, ON BEHALF OF MY OFFICE, THANK YOU, UH, SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH US.
YOUR, YOUR WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN TO THE ISSUES AND UPDATE US ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING, UH, IN YOUR COURTS.
IT IS, IT'S, IT'S TRULY, UM, UH, HAS BEEN, UH, VERY EYE-OPENING FOR ALL OF US.
AND EVERY SINGLE, UH, JUDGE HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING.
UH, AND I THINK YOU'VE HEARD COUNCIL MEMBERS ALSO EXPRESSED, YOU KNOW, THEIR GRATITUDE.
UM, SO, UH, OF COURSE I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THIS PRESENTATION, LORI AND MELODY, AND TO THE ENTIRE STAFF AT, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES, WHO I KNOW OUR, OUR ARE WORKING THROUGH A VERY STRESSFUL TIME.
[01:20:01]
PRESENTATION WAS, WAS, UH, WELL PUT TOGETHER.BUT I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, UH, THAT, UH, REVOLVE AROUND SORT OF THE BASIC ISSUES THAT I STILL SEE HAPPENING, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSING SECURITY.
IF I LOOK, IF YOU LOOK AT SLIDE FIVE AND UNDER GENERAL FUND THERE, THERE'S NO DOLLARS.
UM, AND THEN YOU GO TO SLIDE 29, AND WE TALK ABOUT SUPPORTS RENT, MORTGAGE, UTILITIES, FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL FUNDING AT $8.1 MILLION.
UH, HELP ME HELP, I GUESS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS KIND OF WHAT WE WENT THROUGH THE FIRST TIME WITH THE RISK MITIGATION FUND AND WHY WE WENT UP TO $25 MILLION.
AND THE FIRST PLACE WAS BECAUSE, UH, SOMETHING THAT IS SO IMPORTANT TO THIS COMMUNITY IS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO WERE NOT GETTING HELP, UH, FROM FEDERAL OR STATE, UH, FUNDING SOURCES.
AND, AND, AND I AM, UH, YOU KNOW, I, WE HAVE TO INCLUDE OUR UNDOCUMENTED POPULATION MM-HMM.
AND SO, UH, HOW, HOW IS IT THAT IF THERE IS NO GENERAL FUND DOLLARS IN, IN SLIDE, UH, FIVE, AND THEN IN 29, WE HAVE 8.8 0.1 COVERING.
THAT IS, ARE WE, ARE WE ABLE TO COVER, UH, THOSE FOLKS? SO SLIDE FIVE, I, I DON'T HAVE IT UP, BUT I THINK IT REFERS TO THE CORONAVIRUS RELIEF SPENDING.
UM, SO THE $25.5 MILLION THAT WAS ALLOCATED EARLY ON IS NOT INCORPORATED INTO THAT SLIDE FIVE.
AND SO YOU HAVE $8.1 MILLION RESERVED FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL FUNDING.
AND THEN YOU HAVE ANOTHER $9 MILLION THAT'S FOR F I I OR CASH SUPPORT.
YOU CANNOT USE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE CASH SUPPORT OR THOSE THAT ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL FUNDING.
SO WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IS WE'RE USING THE HOUSING TRUST DOLLARS, THE $5 MILLION, WE'RE USING THE TS FUNDING, WHICH WAS ABOUT $4 MILLION.
WE'RE USING THE, UM, TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN THE PARKING FUND.
UM, AND THEN WE HAD SOME OTHER FUNDING OF THE RISK MITIGATION FUND BALANCE.
AND SO THAT FUNDING WAS AVAILABLE TO HELP US PROVIDE FOR THE, THOSE THAT ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL FUNDING.
AND THE F I I, SO WHAT'S AVAILABLE IS $8.1 MILLION, OR IS IT 8.1 PLUS THE 9 MILLION? PLUS THE 9 MILLION.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT A LITTLE OVER $17 MILLION IN, IN POTENTIAL HELP.
UM, AND AGAIN, I, I THINK, UH, SOMEBODY ELSE ALSO ASKED A QUESTION IN TERMS OF HOW WE MIGHT SHIFT DOLLARS.
UH, IF WE LOOK AT, UH, YOU KNOW, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, SMALL BUSINESS, DIGITAL INCLUSION, ALL DID HAVE, UH, MONEY FROM, FROM GENERAL FUNDING.
AND, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A POSSIBILITY OF, OF, OF TRADING SOURCES SO THAT, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT, WITHOUT IT, UH, TAKEN AWAY, BUT RATHER JUST, UH, OF, OF WHERE IT'S COMING FROM, HAVING, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN, IF WE SEE THAT WE MIGHT NEED MORE FROM MORE FLEXIBILITY, UH, IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO, UH, TO GET SOME MORE MONEY FROM THE GENERAL FUND IF USING THIS MATRIX? YES.
IF WE FEEL THAT THERE IS MORE NEED FOR MORE FLEXIBLE DOLLARS, WE CAN MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AND WE WOULD GO BACK TO COUNCIL OR WORK THROUGH A COUNCIL COMMITTEE.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE CONTINUING TO MONITOR.
UM, WE DON'T
UM, AND THEN I, YOU KNOW, EARLIER TODAY, AND I'LL, I'LL BRING IT, IT'S REALLY SOMETHING I BRING UP IN THE NEXT, IN THE NEXT ITEM, BUT ON THE TARGETED STRATEGIES, UH, MELODY, YOU AND I SPOKE THIS MORNING.
UH, WE KNOW WE HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE $9.24 MILLION.
AND, UM, CAN YOU, UH, JUST EXPAND A LITTLE MORE? YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS REALLY IS, UM, A LITTLE MORE THAN JUST SIMPLY SHELTERING FOLKS THROUGH DECEMBER.
UH, TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.
SO THE EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANT FUNDS THROUGH HUD, UM, THEY WILL GO THROUGH 2022, UM, ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE YEAR IN 2022, TO GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ON, ON HOUSING STABILITY.
UM, AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT, SO I KNOW YOU HAD KIND OF DONE SOME MATH AROUND $9 MILLION AND 500 PEOPLE, BUT WE ACTUALLY ANTICIPATE THAT WE'LL PROVIDE PRETTY INTENSIVE SET OF SERVICES TO AT LEAST A THOUSAND, UM, INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES.
AND, YOU KNOW, EVEN MORE THROUGH OUR HOMELESS HOTLINE, THROUGH OUR, UM, OUTREACH, UH, STRATEGIES THAT WILL FORM.
[01:25:01]
UM, EVEN SOME OF THE HOMELESS PROGRAMS ARE EXPENSIVE, FRANKLY.SO WE, WHEN YOU PROVIDE, UM, MONTHS AND MONTHS OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE, THE PER PERSON COST IS HIGH, BUT, UM, THE RESULTS ARE GENERALLY VERY HIGH AS WELL.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE AMOUNT THAT WE SPEND AS A COMMUNITY ON EACH CHRONICALLY HOMELESS OR UNSHELTERED HOMELESS INDIVIDUAL, UM, THROUGH HOSPITAL COSTS, JUSTICE, UH, POLICING COSTS, UM, CLEANING COSTS, THE SUBSIDIES FOR RENT ASSISTANCE ARE MUCH LOWER.
AND THAT'S REALLY THE, THE THEORY BEHIND THOSE PROGRAMS. BUT WE DO ANTICIPATE THAT WE'LL SERVE FAR MORE THAN 500 PEOPLE.
UH, AND IF YOU COULD JUST, UH, I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THOSE THAT WE DEFINITELY WANNA MONITOR.
'CAUSE WE KNOW, UH, THAT WE'RE ALSO SEEING AN INCREASE IN THE HOMELESS POPULATION.
AND, AND, AND SO, UH, IT'S, IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE TALKED ABOUT IT.
AND, AND, AND THE REASON THEY DID THAT MATH WAS SIMPLY TO SEE IF THERE WAS A WAY TO, TO, UH, IMPACT MORE PEOPLE MM-HMM.
SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR, FOR THAT EXPLANATION, MELODY.
AND YOU'RE, UH, YOU'RE A HUNDRED PERCENT RIGHT, AND I, AND I AGREE WITH YOU AND SUPPORT THE FACT THAT IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T JUST DO ONE THING, IT'S, IT'S, UH, WRAPAROUND SERVICES MM-HMM.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT, UM, SLIDE.
AND I FORGOT TO MENTION SLIDE 24, YOU, IT'S, UH, AGAIN, WHILE THE COURTS ARE, ARE, ARE, UH, CLOSED DOWN, I WOULD ASK THAT STAFF MAYBE TAKE A LOOK AT, AND PRETTY MUCH WHAT, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, ANDREW SULLIVAN MENTIONED IN TERMS OF UNDERSTANDING, UM, THESE FILINGS MIGHT HAPPEN BEFORE THERE, THERE IS, UM, IF YOU LOOK AT THE DEFAULT JUDGMENTS, 260 IS, IT'S THE LARGEST NUMBER WHEN IT COMES TO THE EVICTION COURT, INTER, UH, COURTS HEARINGS.
AND YOU, UH, AND THAT REALLY MEANS THAT ESSENTIALLY, UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVEN'T SHOWN UP.
AND I, I MEAN, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE SHOW UP OR DON'T SHOW UP BECAUSE THEY, THEY FEEL THAT THEY SIMPLY DON'T HAVE, UH, A CHANCE OR, OR, OR JUST DEFEATED.
UH, SO I WOULD JUST ASK STAFF TO, TO SEE HOW WE CAN BALANCE THESE NUMBERS A LITTLE MORE, UH, IN, IN, IN, IN, UH, IN WAYS TO, TO KIND OF ACKNOWLEDGE OR, UM, UH, COMMUNICATE TO, TO, UH, TENANTS THAT, THAT THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES FOR HELP OUT THERE.
BUT, UH, AGAIN, DON'T, DON'T GET ME WRONG, I REALLY DO APPRECIATE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE WORK HAPPENING HERE.
THIS IS SHOWING THE INCREDIBLE HELP ALL AROUND.
SO, SO THANK YOU, UH, FOR, FOR ALL THAT WORK.
UM, AND WITH REGARDS TO A RENTER'S COMMISSION, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, COURAGE, I, I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, AND I KNOW YOU'RE SUPPORTIVE OF A RENTER'S COMMISSION, AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT WHAT WE MEAN BY RENTER'S COMMISSION AND ABOUT HOW THESE PROBLEMS ARE VERY COMPLEX.
HOW, UM, WE, UH, WE HAVE BEEN SORT OF THRUST ONTO A VERY DIFFICULT TIME.
AND AS LORI SAID, UM, IT WOULD'VE BEEN BENEFICIAL TO, TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO COULD SPEAK TO THE, THE ISSUES THAT WE CAN, SO WE CAN RAPIDLY RESPOND TO WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND I WANT, I WANNA DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO, UH, WHETHER YOU, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAW THE SEGMENT ON 60 MINUTES OR NOT, BUT THERE WAS THIS LADY NAMED JACKIE GALVAN, AND JACKIE GALVAN ACTUALLY CALLED MY OFFICE.
UH, I SPOKE WITH HER, AND JACKIE GALVAN IS A REALTOR WHO RENTS, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT JACKIE ALVAN, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WERE ABLE TO CONNECT HER WITH NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES.
I THINK IT'S A, A VERY GOOD STORY.
AND, UH, I WILL DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO, TO, UH, TO SEE ABOUT, MAYBE YOU CAN TALK WITH JACKIE GOVAN, MAYBE YOU CAN BE WITH HER, AND MAYBE SHE COULD BE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE ON THE RENTER'S COMMISSION.
SHE ALSO RENTS, AND THAT'S, THAT'S A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE BALANCE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT WE'VE GOTTA BE CAREFUL ABOUT IS THAT WE DON'T SKEW THE BALANCE AND WE DON'T CREATE, UH, A WAY TO, TO, UH, FORCE DEADLOCKS TO, UH, YOU KNOW, CREATE, UH, UH, BUREAUCRATIC RED TAPE THAT, THAT IS NOT GONNA BE HELPFUL.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU, LORI, FOR THE FOLLOW UP ON RENTER'S COMMISSION.
I GUESS MY ASK WOULD BE THAT, UH, AS YOU'RE MOVING THIS ALONG, IT IS A TOUGH
[01:30:01]
TIME, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE REALLY GETTING INTO MUCH MORE OF A LOCKDOWN STATE, UH, BECAUSE OF THE COVID CRISES.AND, UH, I GUESS I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MAYBE IF YOU COULD, UH, UH, SEND THIS COMMITTEE KIND OF A, A PLAN OF HOW YOU, UH, WOULD LIKE TO ENGAGE THE, UH, THE PUBLIC REGARDING THE RENTERS COMMISSION, UH, IN JULY.
AND, UH, AND THEN JUST KEEP US UPDATED.
I, I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO, UH, HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS AROUND IT.
I, AGAIN, I WANT TO, UH, WHAT, WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REALLY GETTING TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER AND, AND FORMING A COMMISSION THAT IS, UH, TRUE TO ITS MISSION AND, UH, REALLY MAKES SENSE SO THAT WE'RE NOT CAUGHT FLATFOOTED AGAIN.
UH, YOU KNOW, SO, UH, YOU KNOW, AND I DEFINITELY WANNA WORK WITH YOU ON, ON THIS, AND IF THERE'S A MEETING THAT I COULD BE A PART OF, I DEFINITELY WANT TO BE THERE.
SO, UM, WITH THAT, UH, I GUESS THAT'S, THAT'S IT FOR THIS ITEM.
AND THIS WAS REALLY JUST, OH, DO WE NEED A MOTION? NO, JUST A BRIEFING, RIGHT? THIS, THIS IS JUST BRIEFING.
AND, UM, IF YOU'RE READY FOR THE NEXT ITEM, WE CAN WE'LL TAKE ITEMS OR YOUR DIS YOUR RECOMMENDATION ON WHAT FUTURE ITEMS WE NEED TO INCLUDE.
[2. 20-3987 Briefing on the future Culture and Neighborhood Services Council Committee Agenda]
GO ON TO ITEM NUMBER TWO.SO I, ITEM NUMBER TWO IS REALLY JUST THE DISCUSSION ON FUTURE DISCUSSION ON THIS COMMITTEE.
UH, ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS OR THOUGHTS CHAIR? SURE.
I'D LIKE TO SEE HOW WE ARE COLLABORATING WITH THE BATTERED WOMEN'S SHELTER, UM, AND CHILDREN'S SHELTER, AND ALSO WITH OUR YOUTH ADVOCATES ON HOW WE ARE ASSISTING, UM, THOSE YOUTH WHO ARE AGED OUT OF THE, UM, FOSTER SYSTEM AND GOING THROUGH COVID AND WHAT, UM, RESOURCES WE ARE PROVIDING THOSE, UM, YOUNG INDIVIDUALS.
SO WHEN WILL, WHEN WILL OUR NEXT MEETING BE? WELL, THAT'S WHAT I WAS GONNA PROPOSE RIGHT NOW, SO I, I'D LIKE, I'D LIKE FOR US TO MEET IN JULY, IF POSSIBLE.
I, I, AND THAT'S, UH, SOMETHING I WAS GONNA PROPOSE.
SO, UH, WE WOULD, WE WOULD CHECK WITH EVERYBODY'S CALENDAR, UM, KNOWING THAT THE STAFF IS ALSO GONNA BE BUSY WITH BUDGET AND COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE A VERY BUSY SCHEDULE.
BUT IF, BUT IF, UH, IF AGREEABLE, I DEFINITELY WOULD LIKE TO MEET IN JULY.
SO, UH, AND SO SOMETHING THAT I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT IN OUR NEXT MEETING, AND LET'S, LET'S JUST SAY TENTATIVELY WE'RE, WE HAVE A MEETING THAT WE SET UP FOR JULY, UM, A FOLLOW UP ON RENTER'S COMMISSION AND SO FORTH.
UM, AN ISSUE THAT, THAT HAS, THAT HAS COME UP, UH, ESPECIALLY, UM, THROUGH THE, UH, THE WORKING GROUPS THAT, THAT HAVE NOW, UM, HAVE BEEN, UH, DISSOLVED AND BACK WITNESSES, WE'RE NOW BACK INTO THE COUNCIL COMMITTEES.
UM, YOU KNOW, HAVEN FOR HOPE, UM, WAS, IS PROVIDING A FEEDING, UH, FEEDING PROGRAM.
AND, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO AGENDIZE A BRIEFING ON THE FEEDING PROGRAM, HAVEN HAVEN PROBS FEEDING PROGRAM IN, IN THE CONTEXT OF HOW, UH, OF, OF WHERE IT'S BEING DONE AND, UH, HOW THAT STRATEGY IS WORKING OUT.
IS IT BEING, UH, DISTRIBUTED OR AFFECTING NEIGHBORHOODS? UM, YOU KNOW, WHERE IS THAT LOCATED? HOW MANY SITES, UH, WHERE ARE THEY LOCATED? UH, HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS ARE BEING FED? HOW ARE THEY, HOW ARE THEY BEING REACHED? UH, ARE, ARE WE ACTUALLY, UH, UM, PROVIDING THEM, UH, WRAPAROUND SUPPORT AS WE JUST TALKED ABOUT? OR ARE WE SIMPLY JUST FEEDING THEM? AND THEN WHO DEALS WITH THE TRASH THAT IS, THAT IS, UH, PRODUCED BECAUSE OF IT? UH, WHEN WILL THE PROGRAM SUNSET? UH, WHAT, UH, WHAT'S THE DATA COLLECTION THAT WE'RE GETTING OFF OF THE, THESE POPULATIONS AND HOW'S IT BEING COLLECTED? AND WE KNOW IT'S A DIFFICULT TIME BECAUSE OF, UH, THE C D C RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING ENCAMPMENTS, BUT WE'RE ALSO SEEING, UH, THAT THERE'S BEEN A RECOMMENDATION AROUND, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, UM, EFFORT TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT, UH, THAT SOME OF THESE FOLKS ARE GETTING
[01:35:01]
THE, THE CARE, THE, THE, THE, THE TOUCH THAT THEY NEED, UH, TO SURVIVE DURING THIS VERY DIFFICULT TIME.BUT I DO THINK THAT IT NEEDS TO BE COORDINATED.
I THINK PEOPLE WILL NEED TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE KIND OF COMMUNICATIONS AROUND THIS EFFORT.
UH, INTERGOVERNMENTAL OFFICE RELATIONSHIPS, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS, HOMELESS POPULATIONS.
UH, THIS PARTICULARLY IS, IS HAPPENING, UM, AROUND MY FIELD OFFICE AND, AND WAS, WAS NOT, WAS SIMPLY NOT COORDINATED.
UH, AND WE, WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT IF, IF THIS IS HAPPENING ELSEWHERE AND HOW WE CAN, HOW WE CAN, UH, BETTER ADDRESS THE SITUATION.
MELODY, WOULD YOU, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAYBE SAY A FEW WORDS? BECAUSE WE TALKED AGAIN EXTENSIVELY THIS MORNING ABOUT THIS AND LAST WEEK AS WELL, AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, COUNCILMAN, UH, RESPOND TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
YOU CAN TALK GENERALLY ABOUT WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE ON A FUTURE AGENDA, BUT YOU REALLY SHOULDN'T GET INTO ANY KIND OF BRIEFING OR DISCUSSION TODAY.
WELL, UH, CAN, CAN, CAN SHE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A, A PROGRAM THAT, THAT WASN'T COORDINATED? I, I, I THINK VERY, VERY BASIC INFORMATION AND JUST THE IDEA THAT WE WILL COME BACK AND DISCUSS IT ONCE IT'S BEEN AGENDA.
AND SO, HAVEN FOR HOPE HAS BEEN, UM, FEEDING HOMELESS AND ALL OVER THE COMMUNITY, UM, SINCE APRIL, WHEN THE STAY AT HOME ORDERS WERE ISSUED.
UM, UH, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS DISCUSSED AS YOU SAID IN THE WORKING GROUP MEETING.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, A NUMBER OF PEOPLE AT THE CITY WERE AWARE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, WERE AWARE OF IT.
AND WE, I HAVE TALKED TO KENNY, AND WE WILL WORK ON, UH, BETTER COORDINATION AND BETTER PLANNING, AND I'LL, YOU KNOW, I'LL LET HIM KNOW TO BE PREPARED TO PRESENT, UM, WHEN THE COMMITTEE DECIDES TO DO THAT.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT BRIEFING AT OUR NEXT, UH, COMMITTEE MEETING.
UH, UH, COUNCIL
UM, ALSO ON THE NEXT MEETING, CAN WE ALSO JUST GET ANOTHER UPDATE OF OUR, OF THIS COMMITTEE STRATEGY PILLARS THAT ARE ASSIGNED TO US, UM, MUCH SIMILAR TO WHAT WE JUST SAW ON THE NUMBERS OF THE APPLICATIONS, ET CETERA, IF WE CAN GET AN UPDATE.
AND THEN ALSO TO YOUR POINT OF, UM, IN YOUR HOMELESS, IN THE HOMELESS PROGRAM UPDATE THAT YOU'RE SHARING, IF WE CAN, CAN WE ALSO HAVE A POTENTIAL UPDATE OF, UM, I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF PARTNERS, BUT EVEN HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT DOES PUBLIC SAFETY MEAN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOMELESSNESS AND NOT NECESSARILY POLICING, BUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELESS AND WHERE ALTERNATIVES MAY BE, IF YOU'RE ALL RIGHT WITH THAT.
YEAH, I THINK THAT SOUNDS GOOD.
WE'LL, WE'LL WORK WITH MELODY AND, AND LORI TO, TO GET THAT AGENDA.
AND, UH, TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE PREVIOUS QUESTION, UH, MAYBE WE CAN WORK ON, ON, UH, BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'LL HAVE A BIG DISCUSSION AROUND HOMELESS, UH, WE'LL TACK TACKLE THAT FIRST, AND AT, AT MINIMUM, MAYBE THEY CAN, UH, PROVIDE SOME OF THE INFORMATION YOU REQUESTED IN WRITING SO THAT WE AT LEAST HAVE THAT.
UH, LORI, DO YOU HAVE THAT? WE DO.
AND WE'LL, WE'LL WORK WITH EVERYBODY TO CANVAS FOR THE NEXT MEETING.
UM, I THINK THAT'S, IS THAT THE, THAT, I THINK THAT'S ALL OUR ITEMS. UH, ONCE AGAIN, APPRECIATE Y'ALL TAKING THE TIME, UH, UH, OUTTA YOUR DAY TO, TO, TO MEET TODAY, AND WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU GUYS IN JULY.